Bruins Down Hurricanes, Take 2-1 Series Lead

Rod Brind’Amour pulled goaltender Petr Mrazek for the extra attacker with just over two minutes to go in regulation, as the Carolina Hurricanes were down 2-1 against the Boston Bruins.

But, the decision would come back to bite the Hurricanes, as Brad Marchand scored an empty net to put the Bruins up 2-1 on the series.

Brad Marchand gets the empty net with 30 seconds to go in regulation. #NHLBruins #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/qzx9hIvrTk

— BOSHockeyNow (@BOSHockeyNow) August 15, 2020

Halak, who got the start after Tuukka Rask opted out of the Bubble playoffs, made 29 saves in the victory, while Mrazek made 36 saves on 38 shots.

No goals were scored in the opening period, but both teams had plenty of opportunities on the power play. Boston and Carolina had two opportunities on the man-advantage to take the lead, but neither prevailed.

The Bruins continued their success on the power play without David Pastrnak. They opened the second period with less than two minutes to go on their four-minute power play. Carolina’s Trevor van Riemsdyk commited a high sticking double minor at 17:58 in the first, and the penalty would carry over into the second period.

At 0:14, the Bruins finally got on the board. Charlie Coyle picked up the rebound from a Brad Marchand shot from the left face-off circle that went off the cross bar, and batted it past Mrazek to give the Bruins the lead.

Charlie Coyle with that wicked hand-eye coordination to put the Bruins up 1-0 on the power play.#NHLBruins #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/oQQ5CsL5XJ

— BOSHockeyNow (@BOSHockeyNow) August 15, 2020

Boston extended their lead with a short-handed goal 1:16 into the third period.

Par Lindholm was whistled for cross checking Brock McGinn 19:31 into the second period, and the Bruins began the third period on the penalty kill.

With less then 20 seconds to go on the kill, Charlie Coyle skated up the left side with Sean Kuraly joining the rush. Coyle dished a pass to Kuraly, who was crashing the net, and chipped the puck in past Mrazek to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.

Shorthanded goal for Sean Kuraly! He chips in a pass from Coyle to put the Bruins ahead 2-0.#NHLBruins #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/FtAJQCaIS5

— BOSHockeyNow (@BOSHockeyNow) August 15, 2020

The Hurricanes cut the Bruins lead in half with 13:30 to go in the third period. Niederreiter picked up Halak’s attempt at clearing the puck, and caught the goaltender behind his own net.

Niederreiter potted one home to get the Hurricanes on the board, as Halak was unable to get back into position.

Niederreiter cuts the Bruins lead in half. #NHLBruins #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/k2rxcmD4KS

— BOSHockeyNow (@BOSHockeyNow) August 15, 2020

Marchand’s tally with 30 seconds to go put the Bruins atop the Hurricanes for a 2-1 series lead.