Game 1 Preview: Hurricanes vs. Bruins

UPDATE: Due to the length of Game 1 between Tampa Bay and Columbus, Game 1 of the Hurricanes-Bruins series has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m.

TORONTO - The field of 16 is set for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Carolina Hurricanes draw the Boston Bruins in the First Round.

The match-up is a rematch of the 2019 Eastern Conference Final, which ended in a four-game sweep for the Bruins, who have won four of the last five playoff series between the two teams.

"Obviously, we weren't happy with the last time we played them in playoffs," Jordan Staal said on Monday. "We owe them a better series. Two very good teams going at it, a good challenge for our group in the first round."

Revisiting the Qualifiers

A week ago, the Canes were the first team to advance from the Cup Qualifiers into the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a three-game series sweep of the New York Rangers.

Led by a dynamic offensive performance from their first line and stellar play from their two netminders, the Canes outscored the Rangers 11-4 in the series and trailed just once for a brief 3:06 in the second period of the decisive Game 3.

"It's a special group we have in there," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said after the series win. "We need everyone, and they understand that."

Sebastian Aho tallied eight points (3g, 5a) in three games, ranking second in the league (and now first among those skaters still competing in the playoffs). In total, Aho has recorded 20 points (8g, 12a) through 18 career postseason games.

Andrei Svechnikov scored a hat trick, the first of his career and the first for the franchise in postseason history, in Game 2. The 20-year-old finished with five points (3g, 2a) in three games and now owns 10 points (6g, 4a) through 12 career postseason games.

"That's what makes our team go," Staal said of the Canes' top line, which also features Teuvo Teravainen. "They've got such a great mix of talented players. The big, Russian mule beside me. He's hunting pucks and playing physical, and he's got an absolute laser of a shot. Fishy is very similar with hunting the puck and creating turnovers with his speed, skill, hands and vision. Turbo is one of the most talented players I've played with. When he has the puck, he sees the ice so well, creates plays and finds holes you wouldn't even see when you're sitting up top. Just three very talented players who have pushed our team."

Petr Mrazek made a combined 47 saves on 50 shots in Games 1 and 2, while James Reimer closed the series with a 37-save performance in Game 3. The two goaltenders teamed up for a 1.33 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage.

Staying Sharp

The main challenge for the Canes in the week between Game 3 of the Qualifiers and Game 1 of the First Round was to stay sharp, both mentally and physically.

They practiced. They worked out as a team at the other hotel inside the bubble. They had a field day at BMO Field. And they spent plenty of time in the players' lounge on the eighth floor of their downtown Toronto hotel.

"We've used this time to really bond as a group. We've had practices, and we're managing our time in a way that's going to help us prepare for the next round," Warren Foegele said on Sunday. "Guys are playing ping pong, cards, board games. Yesterday, we had a really fun day outside."

Rested and ready? Check and check.

The Sooner the Better to Get Your Right-Hand (D) Man Back!

After suffering an undisclosed injury during Phase 3 training camp, Dougie Hamilton returned to practice with the Canes on Thursday. He's since been skating alongside his usual defensive partner, Jaccob Slavin, and has been utilized on the point of the top power-play unit.

Video: "We owe them a better series."

"I think I've learned through all this just to take it day-by-day. I keep trying to remind myself that," Hamilton said after his first team practice in Toronto. "I'm just trying to get back to feeling 100 percent again."

If he feels 100 percent, Hamilton will likely be inserted into the Canes' Game 1 lineup.

"The guys played great the first three games, so it was a lot of fun to watch them and cheer them on," he said. "I'm just itching to be able to join them."

The Last Meeting

The pause cut the Canes and Bruins season series short by two games. In their lone meeting of 2019-20, Jaroslav Halak and the Bruins shut out the Canes, 2-0, in Boston.

With 4:05 left in regulation, Charlie Coyle broke a scoreless deadlock, and 68 seconds later, David Krejci scored on a redirection. Halak finished with 24 saves on 24 shots in his 500th NHL game.

The Opposition

The Bruins finished the shortened 2019-20 regular season atop the NHL standings with a 44-14-12 record and 100 points through 70 games, earning them the Presidents' Trophy. David Pastrnak ranked first in the league in goals (48) and third in the league in points (95), while his linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron chipped in another 87 and 56 points, respectively.

The Bruins then dropped each of their three round robin games and settled for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

"They all defend. They have a great system. When they do have an occasional breakdown, they've got great goaltending. They've got the secret to success, for sure," Brind'Amour said. "Their special teams are super specials. When you have that cooking for you, it's a good recipe."

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