1) Special Teams Issues
Since the conclusion of the regular season we have heard Rod Brind'Amour and players alike say that special teams can make or break games for your team. Tonight it broke the Canes.
Carolina went 0/5 on the power play and Boston went 2/5, while also scoring their first of the night shorthanded.
The visitors had chances to extend their lead, tie the game or crawl back into the game with their man advantage chances, but instead came up empty each time.
Brind'Amour has used the word "execution" as a necessity for his team when on the power play - quick puck movement, crisp passes and knowing where to go with it when a player gets the puck - and there was little of that Friday.
2) Can't Blame The Kid
As mentioned above, three of Boston's four goals came during special teams play.
The only even strength goal to beat Pyotr Kochetkov over the course of 60 minutes came after a shot off the tape of Patrice Bergeron was blocked and fell right to Brad Marchand in the slot.
Although the final line will reflect four goals against on 28 shots for the 22-year-old, the netminder was more than suitable in his first career Stanley Cup Playoffs start.
3) Another Man Down
After losing Antti Raanta due to injury in Game Two, the Canes lost Jordan Martinook during tonight's second period.
Tangled up with Taylor Hall in front of the benches, Martinook lost his helmet in the midst of the battle but then came up favoring his right leg. #48 had to be helped down the tunnel by Head Athletic Trainer Doug Bennett and shortly thereafter it was announced that he would not return due to a lower-body injury.
Post-game Rod Brind'Amour didn't have much of an update, but did say, "That one is going to be questionable [moving forward]. He looked pretty rough in there."
