Brad Marchand bounced back at crucial moments and kept the Boston Bruins alive on Thursday night.
Marchand had a goal and an assist as the Bruins forced the win at the end of the game by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2.
Marchand took his ninth and tenth playoff points at home and temporarily led the National Hockey League in playoff scoring (11). He allowed the Bruins to open the scoring early in the second period and set up Charlie Coyle’s goal.
Erik Haula, Derek Forbort and Curtis Lazar scored their first of the series in the third period. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves in front of the net for Boston, which opened doors to their opponents by taking four consecutive penalties in the second period.
The Bruins tied the series at 3-3 and now have the daunting task of winning a game in North Carolina. Three of their home visits were lost to the Hurricanes in this series. The seventh and final encounter will take place on Saturday.
Andrei Svechnikov gave the Hurricanes a boost when he hit the needle 3:24 into the final period for the first of his two goals, but they didn’t tie the game. Antti Raanta gave up four times on 33 throws.
After the first stage where guests were offered convincing hockey, Marchand caused hysteria at TD Garden.
Back in his fold with the puck, Connor Clifton looked up and saw a good pass line to Marchand during a Hurricanes substitution. The Bruins’ No. 63 fired an accurate shot to the wrist that hit Raanta’s left shoulder.
The Bruins had a chance to double their lead when Charlie McAvoy escaped, but he didn’t get a good backhand shot because he was blocked by a rival. Raanta stopped the puck in front of him.
It was just a postponement for Bruce Cassidy’s staff. In a power play late in the second period, David Pastrnak’s shot was blocked by defenseman Ian Cole, but the puck landed on Coyle’s stick blade, only to be sent into a free net.
Svechnikov made it interesting when his quick shot to the wrist gave Swayman a chance, but less than four minutes later McAvoy slid the puck in Haula’s direction, which quickly redirected it beyond Raanta.
Forbort from the point and Lazar from an empty net then put up the game for the Bruins.
Source: Radio-Canada
