Momentum in the Bruins – Hurricanes series is clearly wearing black and gold as the teams head back to Boston for a decisive Game 7 on Thursday night and Power Play is back with a few random thoughts while waiting for the puck to drop.
It’s nice to see the Bruins develop a rivalry with the Hurricanes, pretty much courtesy of Scott Walker’s sucker punch of Aaron Ward. Ward was engaged with Matt Cullen before Walker crashed the party (Third Man In) and popped Ward as he was still trying account for Cullen’s whereabouts. In any event, a regular season Carolina game in Boston would generally be a ho-hum affair and just another night on the NHL calendar, albeit with a fair number of Hartford Whalers jerseys in the crowd. Thanks to this series, and specifically Mr. Walker, that will probably change starting next season. Disdain for the opposing team is always good for hockey.
“The most dangerous lead in hockey is a two goal lead.” No truer words can be found. Sure, a two goal lead is great, but it gives a team a false sense of security that can lead to a tie score in less than 90 seconds. Every time the Bruins went up by a deuce in Game 6, Carolina seemed to be on a five-on-five “power play” in the Boston end of the ice with the Bruins missing easy opportunities to clear the puck out of their zone of a countless number of occasions. Tim Thomas was spectacular while denying the Hurricanes the chance to make it a one goal game and blowing the roof off the RBC Center.
Steve Montador can scare the living hell out of any Bruins fan when handling the puck in his own end, but the guy clearly can skate and is effective in the transition game and jumping up into the play in the offensive zone.
Dennis Wideman has been a disappointment this series. Like Montador, he’s not to be trusted in his own zone with the puck, but he usually compensates for that with his offensive skills in the attacking zone. However, even in the offensive zone things don’t seem to be going his way as of late with the puck always seeming to be jumping over his stick or him making an errant pass on the power play. His inability to put the puck on net is now becoming legendary for “Wideleft.” He’s still a skilled a player and can hopefully gain some confidence going forward.
Patrice Bergeron is playing some sound hockey right now. His direct passes to Recchi and Kobasew for goals in Game 6 were pinpoint and almost indefensible by Carolina.
The Hurricanes clearly have no answer for Milan Lucic, who can impose his will on them any time he wants, and that seems to be every time he’s on the ice as of late. How can this guy not be consider the successor to Chara as captain of the Bruins?
Byron Bitz has done a stellar job and his physical play will probably keep Blake Wheeler on the bench for Game 7. Perhaps the Bruins might even give him a normal hockey number during train camp in September?
Okay, prediction time. Power Play has always maintained that a team failing to close out a series in Game 6 at home rarely wins Game 7 on the road and that should hold true Thursday night in Boston in front of what promises to be a raucous crowd. If Carolina doesn’t score first they’re in a heap of trouble as things could spiral out of control for them very quickly. Prediction? Bruins 5, Hurricanes 1.
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