How the Boston Bruins Could Fare Against the Carolina Hurricanes – Hockey Writers –

The Boston Bruins are coming off a tough loss against the Philadelphia Flyers, where goalkeeper Samuel Ersson made a shutout in a 2-0 win over the Bruins. This left head coach Jim Montgomery scratching his head at what the offense had been looking for. The task will only be long, as their next opponent is a fierce competitor.

The Bruins were sent down south to Raleigh, North Carolina to face the Carolina Hurricanes. In what they call the loudest house in hockey, it hasn't been the kindest place for the Bruins. Since sweeping the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals in the 2018-19 season, the Bruins have won just two games in Carolina. Given their recent performance, weathering the storm that is the Hurricanes will be no easy task.

Facing the Oncoming Storm

Defensively, the Bruins have been better as of late. In the last game they faced the Flyers, who increased the intensity at times and really pushed the pace. In this game, they will need to be sharp defensively and stay alert. Storms are very powerful and come at you in waves.

The Hurricanes play at a fast pace and are good at controlling the pace of the game. Under head coach Rod Brind'Amour, the back end is very active and a key area of ​​their offense. Whether you're cycling the puck or dropping it and testing it hard, it's designed to power you. Especially the forecheck, where they got the Bruins better at that.

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The Bruins defense will need to be sharp. They have seen teams feast on chances in the space in and around the front of the net. For the Hurricanes, this is a sweet treat, as they like to shoot from the blue line and create chaos in front of the goal crease. The Hurricanes are deep and have no shortage of players who can contribute. Their top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov made a big impact. Together, they have the third highest expected goals percentage among qualified lines and an average of 5.88 expected goals per 60 minutes. They have everything on the line and if the Bruins aren't at their best, the Hurricanes will make them pay.

Storms create opportunities everywhere, producing a high volume of images from the most dangerous areas of snow. The Bruins will need to get bodies on the shooting lanes and find ways to close down the middle of the ice to limit the Hurricanes' success. While the Bruins need to weather the storm that is the Hurricanes offense, they need to figure out how to shut down the defense.

Security Hacking

Something has to give at some point right? The Bruins offense will find it, there is only so much talent to be found. They need their best players to be their best players and start carrying the load. The big key to this game is that David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand deliver their best game of the season. The offense at 5-on-5 is the worst so far. Sometimes the Bruins will find good time in the offensive zone and bring pressure, but nothing comes of it. They have the fifth-fewest shot attempts, the seventh-fewest on goal, and the fifth-fewest dangerous shot attempts. They lack both quantity and quality in their shooting and their opponents do not give up the open ice. Finding a crack in the Hurricanes defense will be no easy task.

The Hurricanes are the best defensive team in hockey. They play well with the lead and lock things down once they get it. It reminds me of the modern day “trap defense” the New Jersey Devils used in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Every player buys in and commits to protecting the team and that is what makes them so successful.

The Hurricanes lost key pieces this free agency period that played a key role in their defensive structure. However, that had little effect because their defense continued where they left off. As it stands, they gave up the fewest shot attempts at 5-on-5 and the second fewest shots on goal. Also, they allowed very few goals during five-on-five play.

According to HockeyViz, the Hurricanes do a great job of pressuring opponents. It is one of those teams that when you get a good opportunity, you better take advantage of it because it doesn't come often. As a unit, they close down the middle of the ice and bring pressure around the perimeter. If you can produce a rebound, that's the best chance you'll have to score. However, they allow a few high-danger shot attempts, so this is a brick wall for the defensive unit.

The Bruins will need their best effort against the Hurricanes. Results will need to happen sooner rather than later and this strong defense poses a challenge for this team. Fortunately, the presence of Jeremy Swayman in net gives them a boost of confidence.

Swayman Stands Tall

Starting Joonas Korpisalo against the Flyers was a smart move by Montgomery. He hadn't played in two weeks, so giving him to the Flyers over the juggernaut that is the Hurricanes made all the sense in the world. Swayman has been great for the Bruins to start the season, showing his worth in that new contract.

Swayman has a 2.97 goals-against average (GAA) and a .900 save percentage (SV%) to start the 2024-25 season. Not bad for a goalie who missed training camp and preseason. He was a big reason why they got one point against the Utah Hockey Club, while he kept them in the game against the Nashville Predators. He has been the team's best and most important player so far this season. His 1.97 GAA during five-on-five play is outstanding, which is good considering how strong the Hurricanes are offensively.

Given the volume of shots he will face, Swayman's start is a great confidence booster for the Bruins' roster. During his career, he has a 3-2 record with a 2.32 GAA and a .917 SV%.

Difficult, But Not Impossible

Given the way things have been going for the Bruins, beating the Hurricanes will be a huge task. It will be a difficult victory, but not impossible. The Hurricanes are strong when it comes to creating offense, but with Swayman around, expectations are high. If they can find a crack in the defense and the efficiency, getting two points is not out of the question.