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Gutsy effort by Bruins ties series at two |
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The Bruins entered Sunday knowing they would be without defenseman Hampus Lindholm. Shortly before warmups Sunday, they learned they would be without their top workhorse on the blue line, Charlie McAvoy who entered the NHL’S COVID protocol before Game 4.
“We knew this morning that something might be amiss. We found out before warmup that he was going into protocol,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said.
“So, he’s in protocol, so when he comes back? When he’s out of protocol. How does he get out of protocol? I honestly don’t know if he can test his way out or if he just has to wait a certain amount of days.”
Unless McAvoy tests negative twice 24-hours apart, McAvoy will have to remain away from the team for five days from when symptoms began.
Without their top two defensemen, the Bruins came through with their best all-around effort of the series, a gutsy series-trying win.
“These are the most fun games to play in, when there’s high emotions and high intensity and there’s so much riding on the line,” Marchand said following his five point performance. “If you can’t play in these games, what are you playing for?”
With the impact McAvoy plays on a game-by-game basis, it certainly felt like a loss the Bruins wouldn’t be able to overcome, especially given the issues the Bruins have had defensively in their own zone at times this series.
But from Brandon Carlo all the way down to Josh Brown, the Bruins defensemen stepped up in a big way.
“There’s different people that have to step up, obviously guys on the backend. Going in was (Brown’s) first turn. (Connor Clifton) is probably playing a little more, guys have to add minutes to their play,” Cassidy said. “Getting it done in crunch time against a really good team like this is a compliment to them.
Reunited once again, the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak put on a clinic, accounting for four of the Bruins five goals.
"The forward group has to—with some high-end puck movers back there and guys that generate, they’re going to have to give a little more and we saw that with (Bergeron’s) line and a lot of guys for that matter,” Cassidy said. “They’re the ones that end up on the score sheet.”
With the struggles Marchand went through towards the end of the season, his offensive production in these last two games has been a welcoming return.
After Game 3, Marchand said he felt engaged, results followed. Surely, Marchand was engaged again in Game 4.
“That’s what he does, that’s really who he is. He’s always finding ways to get better,” Bergeron said. “Takes it upon himself to help the team any way he can, he always rises up to the occasion anytime there’s a big moment. No surprises there.”
The Bruins finally discovered the recipe for beating the Hurricanes in Game 3. Without two of their most important defensemen, the Bruins changed some ingredients and went right back to the same recipe, again crafting their gameplan to success.
Now, with the series shifting back to Carolina for Tuesday’s crucial Game 5, the Bruins will look to once again create magic in the kitchen.
“The adjustments from one game to the next, I think that’s what playoff hockey is all about. It’s about making sure you’re making adjustments and working on things you need to work on,” Bergeron said.
“They’re doing the same thing on the other side, but with that being said, you have to build some momentum and some confidence and we did that in Game 3 and tried to carry that on.”
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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