Boston Bruins: 24-9-4 Carolina Hurricanes: 16-19-2
The Boston Bruins will play host to the Carolina Hurricanes
Monday night. Boston knocked of Carolina way back on January 28, 5-3. This tilt
will mark the first of two games slated between the clubs this week. The B’s will look to bounce back from a
dejecting loss in Montreal against a slumping, and very beatable Canes squad.
With season’s end in sight and their offense drastically underachieving, the
Black-and-Gold have no choice but to play with an elevated sense of urgency.
Boston’s offense has only managed to collect 2 goals in
their past 2 games. Several of the B’s forwards have been non-existent for long
stretches, suffering from a lack of chemistry and poor execution. The loss of
Patrice Bergeron, the addition of Jaromir Jagr, and the sheer inability to
light the lamp has forced Claude Julien into shuffling his lines with the hopes
of sparking life within the attacking zone.
Yesterday in practice Julien dropped winger Tyler Seguin in
the lineup and rearranged several of his bottom nine forwards, leaving the
Lucic-Krejci-Horton line in tact. The Bruins have been dominant on TD Garden
ice, skating to 13-2-2 record thus far this season. Boston had their way with
Carolina last time out, exploding for 5 scores, something their offense has not
been able to consistently achieve in some time now.
Carolina has lost 4 of their last 5 and 11 of 12 games.
Since losing goaltender Cam Ward to injury, the Canes have been on the slide
and have fallen completely out of playoff contention. They have been outscored
46 to 18 over the course of putrid 1-10-1 stretch.
In facing a mediocre Canes team, the B’s find themselves in
a perfect situation to bounce back and get their anemic offense on track.
Carolina is statistically one of the worst defensive clubs in the NHL. In spite
of the Hurricanes recent command over Boston, this date may be just what the
Bruins need in order to regain the confidence that has slipped away.
Whether it is Tuukka Rask or Anton Khudobin in goal, things
look bleak for Carolina. Both Boston tenders have played outstanding at home
and with Alexander Semin likely sitting this contest out, goals may hard to
come by.
Look for the B’s to convincingly beat up on one of the
Eastern Conference’s worst. With the Bruins failing to respond in the most important
of moments in recent weeks, winning tonight is essentially a must. Claude
Julien has been racking his brain, trying to evoke emotion from his team that
has been in a lull for some time now. Decimated by injury, Carolina still cannot
be overlooked. It would be wise of Boston to put the foot down early on and rekindle
that chemistry that has been eluding them. Chris Kelly will make his much
longed for return from injury and should provide greater balance to a lineup
that is in desperate need of it.
Projected Lines:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Campell-Jagr
Paille-Kelly-Seguin
Caron-Peverley-Thornton
Chara-Hamilton
Bartkowski-Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
Rask
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