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Live Blog: Bruins win Game 2, 6-2 and lead series 2-0

May 12, 2019, 12:07 PM ET [18 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
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Welcome to TD Garden for today’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes. A happy Mother’s day to all you moms out there!

A little afternoon hockey in Boston as the Bruins look to take a 2-0 series lead into Carolina for Game 3 Tuesday night.

The Bruins blue line gets a boost today as Charlie McAvoy returns from his one game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Blue Jackets’ forward Josh Anderson in Game 6 of their second round series with the Columbus Blue Jackets. With McAvoy back in the fold, Steven Kampfer will be the odd man out.

"I can't wait, very excited," said McAvoy. “It's the conference finals, looking to make an impact as much as I can and I'm just really thrilled for the opportunity."

Noel Acciari returned to practice on Saturday wearing a red non-contact jersey. Cassidy expects Acciari will be a full go in practice on Monday and could be back in the lineup for Game 3.

Despite the four goal third period by the Bruins in Game 1, the Hurricanes were the better team for the majority of the game and feel that they can apply what worked well for them in the first two periods to Game 2 Sunday.

“A large chunk of that game was really positive for us,” said Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour. “Really, a small fraction that wasn't very good. “At the end of the day, it's 1-0 them, right? So, you move on."

First period:

20:00 Hurricanes will start with Nino Niederreiter, Jordan Staal, Justin Williams, Jacob Slavin and Dougie Hamilton. Bruins counter with Joakim Nordstrom, Sean Kuraly, Chris Wagner, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy.

17:43: Michael Ferland with an absolute massive hit on Matt Grzelcyk in front of the Bruins bench. Grzelcyk in pain as he struggles to hop over the boards.

12:55: Justin Faulk with a big hit on Sean Kuraly as he carries the puck into the 'Canes zone. No shortage of big hits through the first seven minutes of Game 2.

8:04: Hurricanes get the first power play of the game. Chara for tripping.

6:04: Referees miss a Hurricanes tripping call on Brandon Carlo, Bruins kill off the Chara penalty.

4:38: Matt Grzelcyk's shot from the side of the net somehow squeaks through Mrzaek's pads. 1-0 Bruins. A bit of a soft one there.



1:34: Mrazek with a nice stop, but the puck sits on his doorstep. As bodies fly everywhere, Justin Williams gets called for a penalty. First Bruins power play upcoming.

1:28: That was quick. Jake DeBrusk, 2-0.

0:00: TD Garden with a standing ovation as the Bruins head to intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Thoughts after 20:

Really good period for the Bruins. Both teams came out and played conservative for the first half of the period, but things opened up for the Bruins with Grzelcyk's tally.

Hurricanes brought the physical play to the period. Much different tone by Carolina in Game 2. The Bruins did a good job of taking the hits however, moving on and making plays from the opened space given to them.

After the Bruins looked absolutely lost on their first two power play opportunities in Game 1, they've been lights out since.

Second period:

18:51 Away from the play Bergeron trips Lucas Wallmark. Two minutes for tripping.

16:51: Hurricanes spend most of the power play outside the offensive zone, and the Bruins come away with another penalty kill.

16:14: Connor Clifton into a wide open Hurricanes net. 3-0 Bruins.



7:33: Nice little push there by the Hurricanes, but can't get any bounces to go their way. Still have just nine shots on goal for the entire game.

6:24: Chance for the Hurricanes to get back into the game here. Chris Wagner to the box.

4:24: Bruins kill the Wagner penalty. Missed opportunity for the 'Canes.

3:53: Brad Marchand annoys Justin Williams into a penalty, and Marchand has words for the 'Canes captain as he skates to the box.



2:04: Charlie Coyle gets behind the Hurricanes defense and hits a streaking Grzelcyk for his second of the game. 4-0 Bruins.



0:00: Another standing ovation from the TD Garden faithful after the Bruins dominate the second period, lead 4-0 after two.

Thoughts after 40:

Just a complete no-show by the Hurricanes. The Bruins have been by far the better team in every phase of the game. It took Carolina 33:42 to register their 10th shot on goal.

Great start to the night for the Bruins top two lines who have yet to allow a single scoring chance between them in nearly 15 minutes of five-on-five ice time.

Felt that the Hurricanes defensemen have been more involved in the offensive game so far, and they're getting burnt on it. On Grzelcyk's second goal of the game, Coyle was able to get behind a pinched D and collect the stretch pass from Torey Krug, leading to the goal.

Third period:

18:50: Loose puck in front of Mrzek and David Backes is there for the easy goal. 5-0 Bruins.



17:38: Second tripping call against Bergeron, 'Canes to the power play.

15:38: Bergeron comes out of the box at the perfect time for a two-on-one with Danton Heinen. 6-0 Bruins.



8:43: Hurricanes finally get on the board, Nino Niederreiter with deflection. 6-1 Bruins. Goal has been changed to Justin Williams.



2:28: Rask comes out of his net to play the puck and feeds it right to Teuvo Teravainen. 6-2 Bruins.



0:00: Bruins take a 2-0 series lead into Carolina for Game 3 Tuesday night.
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