The Boston Bruins didn’t win a single game in their preliminary round matchups (0-3) but finally got on track when it mattered the most. In their first playoff game, they edged the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in double overtime. Although the Hurricanes feel like they were screwed by the refs, the end result is a 1-0 Bruins series lead. What’s in store for these teams in a quick turnaround for Game 2 on Thursday?

Hurricanes vs. Bruins NHL Stanley Cup Odds

With the loss on Wednesday, the Hurricanes fell to 21-14 against teams with a winning record. They have won four straight after having played in overtime on the previous day, though, so that’s a good sign.

The Bruins are now 17-7 in their last 24 games overall and as a favorite. They have also won 15 of their last 22 against teams with a winning record and are now 11-1 in the last 12 meetings in this series. They clearly don’t lose often to the Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes

Twitter was ablaze on Wednesday as many people felt the Hurricanes were getting screwed by the referees. To start, Charlie Coyle’s goal for the Bruins looked like it came after an illegal hand pass. That was just one of a few questionable calls that went against the Canes.

The good news is that even when things didn’t go their way, the Hurricanes showed well. They didn’t get the win but goaltender Petr Mrazek played well enough, stopping 36 of 40 shots, while the Hurricanes found their way past Tuukka Rask three times on 28 shots. They were the more physical team (won 51-32 in hits) and they only had 14 giveaways. If they can do a little better with puck possession and throw more shots on net, they’ll have a good chance to even this series up.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have to be happy with their Game 1 effort as the team finally woke up. A loss would have been a real punch in the gut – and an extension of their pre-playoff struggles – but they played like the team we saw in the regular season. The key was their top guns as Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak combined for a total of just one point in their first three games back from the hiatus. They had six on Wednesday, including the game-winner.

The Bruins absolutely own this series, sweeping the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final last year and continuing their dominance in Game 1. With the game going to double overtime and the Bruins finding a way to get the job done, the Hurricanes are going to feel like it’s a little bit in their head and that maybe they aren’t good enough to pull this out.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Hurricanes vs. Bruins?

HURRICANES

Away

1

BRUINS

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