Bruins are well rested for battle with Hurricanes
by Compiled By / NHL.com
The Boston Bruins are reaping the benefits of being the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the first round, the Bruins drew an injured and troubled Montreal Canadiens team, sweeping aside their traditional rivals. Now, because of re-seeding, the Bruins draw the sixth-seeded Carolina Hurricanes, the lowest-remaining seed in the East, in the second round.
But the Bruins better be careful about what they wish for. Carolina is a dangerous team that has an air of magic about it after escaping the first round, despite trailing 3-2 in the series against New Jersey and 3-2 with 1:20 left in Game 7. Goalie Cam Ward is a Stanley Cup-winning goalie who showed his never-say-die attitude throughout the Devils series, outplaying Marty Brodeur across seven back-and-forth games.
Still, the Bruins know they have the tools to handle Carolina. After all, Boston won all four games in the regular-season series and has its own pretty good goalie in Tim Thomas, a Vezina Trophy candidate. Plus, Boston can use monstrous Zdeno Chara in an attempt to neutralize top center Eric Staal. The Devils had no such player and Staal proved to the series-changer in the first round.


Boston has three lines that can score on a regular basis, highlighted by the top line of Phil Kessel, Marc Savard and P.J. Axelsson. That unit accumulated 12 first-round points, with Savard and Kessel netting 11 of them. But they were outscored by the line of Michael Ryder, David Krejci and Milan Lucic, which put up a combined 15 points.
Boston also has a defensive line that can counter any top line, featuring two-way center Patrice Bergeron, veteran Mark Recchi and wrecking ball Chuck Kobasew. Plus, the team has a ton of intimidating size in versatile players like Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Blake Wheeler and Byron Bitz.

The Hurricanes also boast plenty of other weapons like Chad LaRose (seven points against the Devils), Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu. Ryan Bayda, who was scratched in Game 1 of the opening round, ended up tallying a pair of goals against New Jersey.


Boston's depth isn't bad, either. Aaron Ward, Chara's partner, has three Stanley Cup rings and was integral in helping Boston keep its head in hostile Montreal. Dennis Wideman had four points in the first round. Matt Hunwick, his traditional partner, was knocked out in the series against Montreal, but Shane Hnidy stepped right into the breach. Hnidy, Steve Montador and Mark Stuart are all solid, dependable defensemen.

Anton Babchuk has a cannon of a slap shot, although we didn't see it much against the Devils. Babchuk's lack of production caused him to be a healthy scratch in Game 5, but he was reinserted into the lineup for the 4-0 win in Game 6.
Joni Pitkanen has been a horse on Carolina's blue line, as the 6-foot-3 Finn has seen at least 24 minutes of ice time in every game this postseason and has four assists.

Tale of the tape
Thomas
G - bos (#30)
HT: 5' 11" WT: 201
'08-09 Stats:
GAMES: 54
RECORD:
36-11-7
SV%: .933
GAA: 2.10
G - bos (#30)
HT: 5' 11" WT: 201
'08-09 Stats:
GAMES: 54
RECORD:
36-11-7
SV%: .933
GAA: 2.10
Ward
G- car (#30)
ht: 6' 1"
wt: 200
'08-09 Stats:
GAMES: 68
RECORD:
39-23-5
SV%: .916
GAA: 2.44
G- car (#30)
ht: 6' 1"
wt: 200
'08-09 Stats:
GAMES: 68
RECORD:
39-23-5
SV%: .916
GAA: 2.44








The penalty killing, though, was a different story. Carolina certainly benefitted from the three-game absence of New Jersey captain Jamie Langenbrunner, but the Hurricanes' PK was still highly effective, allowing only three tallies in 26 situations.

Milan Lucic, Bruins -- Lucic has that scary combination of skill and size. When he uses it correctly, he makes his line almost impossible to stop because he opens up the ice for his linemates -- Krejci and Ryder. Those two players are clicking incredibly at the moment, so if they are given time and space by Lucic, it could be a long series for the opposition's goalie. But if he uses that combination improperly -- see his suspension last round -- it submarines the team's disciplined approach.

Bruins will win if ... If they play like they did in the first round. Boston played a virtually perfect series against Montreal, playing to its strengths and hiding its weaknesses. Boston's ability to stay disciplined negated Montreal's plan to play special-teams hockey and win games on the power play. At 5-on-5, the Canadiens were no match for Boston. Plus, Boston's lines are so balanced that they don't have to worry about getting out of synch by matching lines.
Hurricanes will win if ... Eric Staal can continue to produce on the top line alongside Ray Whitney and Chad LaRose. Paul Maurice did his best to find a combination that would bring out the best in Staal, and he may have landed it in Game 6 when he opted to put the aforementioned trio together. All three players can skate and have the hands to inflict damage.