3 Keys: Bruins at Hurricanes, Game 1 of Eastern First Round

(1M) Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Bruins
Eastern Conference First Round, Game 1
7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, TVAS2, BSSO, NESN

The Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes will make familiar opponents for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round when they play each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third time in four seasons. The Bruins swept the Hurricanes in the 2019 Eastern Conference Final and eliminated them from the 2020 first round in five games.
The Hurricanes (54-20-8) won the Metropolitan Division, setting Carolina/Hartford Whalers records for wins and points (116). The Bruins (51-26-5) earned the first wild card into the playoffs from the East. Carolina won all three games in the regular-season series, outscoring Boston 16-1.
"Obviously, they had their way with us this year," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Some of that was a while ago, and I think our team is in a much better place than when we played them earlier in the year. So we're not going to take too much stock in that."
Carolina goalie Antti Raanta will make his first NHL postseason start in place of Frederik Andersen, who missed the final six games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Raanta has five playoff appearances.
"That's pretty much the goal when you play hockey, you want to play these (playoff) games," Raanta said. "It's going to be exciting. I think the whole team is excited. At the same time, you just try to focus on the right things. It's more about preparing like it's a hockey game, not that special."
Raanta was 15-5-4 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and two shutouts in the regular season.
"I actually think it's a positive in a lot of ways because of the excitement level," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "For 'Rants,' he's been around for a long time and I'm sure he's been really hungry to have this opportunity."
Pyotr Kochetkov will back up Raanta for Game 1. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut April 23 and went 3-0-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .902 save percentage in three games (two starts).
Teams that win Game 1 are 499-228 (68.8 percent) winning a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, including 6-2 in the first round last season.
Here are 3 keys for Game 1:

1. The power play

Each team finished in the middle of the pack, but neither finished with much momentum. The Hurricanes were 22.0 percent, 13th in the NHL, but struggled on the man-advantage down the stretch, going 4-for-44 in their last 17 games.
The Bruins were 21.2 percent, tied with the Buffalo Sabres for 15th, but 0-for-39 before David Pastrnak scored in a 5-0 win against the Sabres on April 28.

2. Ullmark's debut

Linus Ullmark will make his first playoff start after 158 regular-season games. The 28-year-old goalie was 26-10-2 with a 2.45 GAA, .917 save percentage and one shutout in 41 games (39 starts) this season, his first with the Bruins after playing six seasons for the Sabres.

3. Carolina's checking line

Nino Niederreiter, Jordan Staal and Jesper Fast played together throughout the season, providing a formidable shutdown line for Carolina, but also adding a reliable scoring touch. Niederreiter had 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists), his best totals in four seasons with the Hurricanes.
Staal rebounded after scoring two goals in his first 42 games with 15 in his last 36. Fast scored NHL career highs in goals (14) and points (34).

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk
Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- David Pastrnak
Trent Frederic -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith
Nick Foligno -- Tomas Nosek -- Curtis Lazar
Hampus Lindholm -- Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton
Linus Ullmark
Jeremy Swayman
Scratched:Anton Blidh, Chris Wagner, Mike Reilly, Josh Brown, Mike Reilly
Injured:None

Hurricanes projected lineup

Andrei Svechnikov -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Max Domi -- Vincent Trocheck -- Teuvo Teravainen
Nino Niederreiter -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Jordan Martinook - Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jaccob Slavin -- Tony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Brendan Smith -- Ian Cole
Antti Raanta
Pyotr Kochetkov
Scratched:Ethan Bear, Steven Lorentz, Derek Stepan, Jack LaFontaine
Injured:Frederik Andersen (lower body)
Status report
LaFontaine, a goalie, was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League.