In the end, the Bruins could never figure out how to play in Raleigh like they did in Boston in this series. Saturday’s Game 7 at PNC Arena, their own house of horrors, looked a lot like Games 1, 2 and 5, and it ended the same way: with a Bruins loss. This one wound up with a 3-2 score line, and it ended Boston’s season.
The Bruins got themselves into penalty trouble once again. They gave up the first goal once again. They let a one-goal deficit turn into a two-goal deficit on two occasions. Their offensive depth was nowhere to be found. And they weren’t able to do enough to come back against the Hurricanes’ No. 1-ranked defense.
This marks the first time since 2016-17 that the Bruins have failed to win at least one playoff series. It now sets up an offseason filled with potentially franchise-altering questions, most notably whether 36-year-old captain Patrice Bergeron decides to return for a 19th season in Boston.
As much of the series has been, the first period was a parade to the penalty box. The refs twice called matching minors that created 4-on-4 situations, but nothing came from the more open ice in terms of goals. The Bruins also killed off a Derek Forbort holding penalty.
While the Bruins had a couple chances to open the scoring, including a terrific 2-on-1 look from Taylor Hall that was robbed by Antti Raanta, it was ultimately the Hurricanes who got the first goal for the sixth time in seven games.
It came at 5-on-5 play, with 1:24 left in the first. The Bruins got caught scrambling in the defensive zone, and the Hurricanes took advantage with Jaccob Slavin making a pass down low to Max Domi, who then found Teuvo Teravainen right in front for a tap-in.
The Bruins had just about the worst response possible, as Hall sent the Hurricanes to the power play 26 seconds later with an undisciplined crosscheck to Tony DeAngelo’s mouth, which drew blood and earned Hall four minutes in the box.
While the Bruins actually killed all of Hall’s penalty -- three minutes of which carried over to the second period -- the Hurricanes made it 2-0 just 12 seconds after the power play ended when Jordan Staal’s shot deflected off Hampus Lindholm’s leg in front and right to Max Domi on the doorstep. It marked the fourth time in four games in Raleigh that the Bruins fell behind 2-0.
While the Bruins didn’t have a good response to falling behind 1-0, they did respond well after the second goal. Less than two minutes later, Brad Marchand forced a neutral zone turnover, leading to a quick offensive-zone entry. Patrice Bergeron then sent a pass to the front that deflected off Charlie McAvoy and right to Jake DeBrusk for the goal, his second of the series.
They couldn’t keep the pressure up, though, and with 9:27 left in the second, the Hurricanes got their two-goal lead back. The Bruins once again broke down in their own zone, with Teuvo Teravainen finding himself alone on the boards, allowing him to pick out a pass to the slot. Domi had gained separation from a too-slow Forbort, Trent Frederic failed to get a stick on the centering pass, and Domi then buried Teravainen’s pass past Jeremy Swayman for his second goal and third point of the game.
The Bruins had a couple chances the rest of the way, but not enough. A mad scramble in front of the Hurricanes’ net early in the third produced nothing, nor did a beautiful 2-on-1 setup from Craig Smith to Charlie Coyle, as the puck skipped harmlessly off his stick. The Bruins finally got their first power play of the game with 6:27 to go, but didn't land a single shot on goal.
David Pastrnak did eventually cut the lead to 3-2 with 21.7 seconds left and the goalie pulled, but it was too little, too late.
The Hurricanes now await the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the Penguins and Rangers.