Need to Know: Game 3 | Bruins at Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Bruins will be aiming to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night as the Eastern Conference Final shifts to PNC Arena for Game 3. That will be no easy task, however, with Carolina back in front of a raucous Raleigh crowd that has helped the Hurricanes to a 5-0 home record this postseason.
"Well, we know it will be a tough game. This building gets pretty loud," said David Krejci. "We haven't seen the best from Carolina so we expect their best tonight...it's a big one. Momentum changes pretty quickly in playoffs. It's a big difference between being up 3-0 or 2-1. We know they'll be desperate, but we've been playing desperate hockey pretty much the whole playoffs."
Boston has a chance to build its first 3-0 series lead since its sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final back in 2013.

"At this time of the year, every game, every inch, is important," said Patrice Bergeron. "That's how you raise that level. You've got to elevate from one game to the next and get better. On both sides, we're watching video, trying to adjust to some of the tendencies that we're seeing. We know they're doing that. It's about making sure you have a strong start and weather the storm."
As the three remaining players from the Bruins' 2009 second-round series with the Hurricanes, Bergeron, Krejci, and Zdeno Chara know that storm well.
"You always try to rely on the experience that you've gained over the years," said Bergeron. "The crowd is really into it as well. It is something that we've talked about and needs to be talked about before the game. That being said, nothing that we haven't seen either.
"We've been in Toronto, we've been in Columbus, where they were going and they relied on their home ice and played really well at home."

Being Prepared

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour has yet to name his starting goaltender for Game 3, but it's possible he could make a change between the pipes after surrendering 11 goals over the first two games of the series with Petr Mrazek in net.
Curtis McElhinney subbed in for an injured Mrazek during the second half of the Hurricanes' four-game sweep over the New York Islanders in Round 2 and played extremely well, allowing just four goals on 75 shots over two-plus contests.
Regardless of which goalie gets the call, the Bruins will be prepared, with goaltending coach Bob Essensa already having briefed the team on the tendencies of both backstops.
"We haven't seen him, so there's that element," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of McElhinney. "A little bit over the years. I don't imagine he's changed a lot the last two, three years. I think he played the last game in Boston [in March], definitely one of them. We have some knowledge on him.
"Our goalie coach will do a presentation, did a little bit this morning just in case that happens. I don't think it will change our preparation much other than when the guy has time and space considering some of the information he's got, where there might be opportunities to expose.
"At the end of the day, we're shooting to score and hopefully we hit the right spots."

Acciari Scratched

Noel Acciari was a full participant in Tuesday's morning skate and has been cleared after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury. Cassidy, however, has decided to leave his lineup untouched, meaning Chris Wagner will remain on the right wing alongside Joakim Nordstrom and Sean Kuraly on Boston's fourth line.
"Coach's decision today. He's gonna be out," said Cassidy. "We're gonna stick with the same group. Part of that is we like how we've played, part of it is it give Noel a little extra time. He's cleared but we'll give him the extra two days and we'll evaluate then.
"I think [David] Backes and Wagner both bring some of what Noel does, so we're OK there. Noel does a little more on the penalty kill, so we have to make sure that we're up to speed there. But at the end of the day those other guys have fit in well so we're gonna stick with it."

Hitting 100

Brad Marchand will play in his 100th career playoff game on Tuesday night, making him just the 12th Bruin to reach that mark. The others: Ray Bourque, Wayne Cashman, Don Marcotte, Chara, Bergeron, Krejci, Rick Middleton, Johnny Bucyk, Terry O'Reilly, Glen Wesley, and Don Sweeney.

Tuesday's Projected Lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - David Backes
Marcus Johansson - Charlie Coyle - Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Connor Clifton
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratches: Noel Acciari, Steven Kampfer, Karson Kuhlman, Zane McIntyre, and John Moore.