Bruins Daily: Canes Outclass Bruins; Leafs Send Message; Oilers Choke

The Boston Bruins were once-again out-classed by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1.

What do the Bruins need to do to even this series on Wednesday?

The Toronto Maple Leafs throttled the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their series.

Boston Bruins

Different season but same old story as the Boston Bruins got thumped 5-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Bruins have now lost four straight to the Hurricanes and been outscored 22-2.

In the first installment of ‘Murph’s Take’, I give my read on what transpired between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1:

The Boston Bruins are going to need more from their defensemen and forwards in front of their respective nets. Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo, here’s looking at you.

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was non-committal about keeping Linus Ullmark between the pipes for Game 2.

ICYMI, my BHN partner-in-scribe Joe Haggerty picked the Boston Bruins in six games and I have the Hurricanes in 5.

National Hockey Now

NYI: Here’s the National Hockey Now picks for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, first round.

Pittsburgh: Is the window closing for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Wash: Will Alexander Ovechkin play in Game 1 against the New York Rangers Wednesday.

Florida: Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad could return to the lineup for Game 1 against the Washington Capitals

Detroit: Odds are, the Detroit Red Wings will be drafting eighth overall at the 2022 NHL Draft.

Vegas: Since their team is golfing already, Vegas Golden Knights fans have switched their allegiances to former Knights players like Marc-Andre Fleury for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Colorado: Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is ready to go for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

San Jose: Don’t expect San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture to ask out of San Jose during the rebuild.

Canada Hockey Now

Montreal: The city of Montreal continues to mourn the loss of Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur as he lies in state at the Bell Centre.

Calgary: Could the Calgary Flames-Dallas Stars series be closer than many expect?

Vancouver: Who wouldn’t think that Thatcher Demko should be the starter for the Vancouver Canucks going forward?

NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs routed the defending, back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0 in Game 1 of their series. Mitch Marner silenced the doubters by scoring and snapping a 1,118-day, 18-game, 49-shot drought since his last playoff goal: April 11, 2019. He also added two assists and it’s one game but my prediction of Mitch Marner winning th Conn Smythe ain’t looking bad for now.

Much like the Carolina Hurricanes did to the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their series, the St. Louis Blues owned the Minnesota Wild again to take Game 1 4-0. The Blues have won six straight games over the Wild and are 10-0-1 overall in their last 11 games against the Wild.

When the Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup, they came into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the eighth seed and major underdogs, this year they finished a lot better but are still big dogs to the Edmonton Oilers. Well, it was Déjà vu in Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers Monday as the 2012 Conn Smythe winner, Jonathan Quick stole the show again in a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead for the Kings.