Top of the League: Bruins Visit the Champion Hurricanes in a #1 vs #2 Showdown
Clear your Tuesday night, Bruins fans, because this is the one. The Bruins are in Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 8 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center, and the whole country gets to watch it on ESPN. It's the top two teams in the NHL standings, and it's the defending champs on their home ice. It doesn't get much bigger in October.
Carolina comes in at 9-2-2 with 20 points in 13 games, first in the league. Boston is right behind at 9-2-1 with 19 points in 12 games, and the B's actually own the best points percentage in the NHL. Here's the fun part: a win in regulation tonight puts the Bruins alone on top of the entire league.
The B's are rolling
Boston is 7-0-1 over its last eight games, and the only blemish was an overtime loss in Dallas. Even better, the Bruins have scored at least four goals in every one of those seven wins. They've scored 48 goals and allowed just 26 on the season. That's a plus-22 goal differential through 12 games, and it's the kind of number that tells you this hot start is real.
Pasta is chasing history
Captain David Pastrnak leads the team with 17 points in 12 games, seven goals and 10 assists. He's also sitting on 427 career goals, which ties him with Patrice Bergeron for third on the Bruins' all-time list. One more and Pasta has third place all to himself, with only Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito ahead of him. Doing it in Raleigh on national TV would be a pretty good way to get it done.
Kids and depth
James Hagens keeps proving he belongs. The rookie has nine points in 12 games, four goals and five assists, and he's tied for the rookie points lead. Matthew Poitras has four goals in just nine games, and Fraser Minten and Elias Lindholm have 10 points apiece.
The line of Marat Khusnutdinov, Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie has been a blast to watch. Khusy does the hard work of a middle-six forward at both ends, Geekie has eight assists, and Minten has five goals. Coach is sticking with the same lineup tonight, and with a 7-0-1 run, why change anything?
The goalie duel
Jeremy Swayman gets the start for Boston. Sway is 7-1-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and a shutout. At the other end is Pyotr Kochetkov, who's a perfect 7-0 with a 1.70 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Something has to give tonight, and it could come down to which goalie blinks first.
Scouting the Hurricanes
Carolina is the champ for a reason. Sebastian Aho leads them with 18 points, seven goals and 11 assists. Jackson Blake has 13 points, Andrei Svechnikov has 12, and Logan Stankoven leads the team with eight goals. The Canes have scored 51 goals in 13 games, so they can light the lamp too.
Three things we're watching
1. Get to Kochetkov early. He hasn't lost yet. The B's have scored four or more in every recent win, and an early goal would make him feel the pressure for the first time this season.
2. Pasta's 428. Every time number 88 touches the puck, keep an eye on the history books.
3. Finish it in 60. A point is nice, but two in regulation puts Boston alone at the top. Don't let this one go to overtime.
By the numbers
Boston has given up 26 goals, Carolina has given up 33. Boston has the better points percentage, and Carolina has home ice and the banner. On paper, it's about as even as an October game gets.
Our prediction
We're fans, so you already know: Bruins win in regulation, Pasta scores number 428 to pass Bergy, and Boston wakes up Wednesday at the top of the NHL. Puck drop is at 8 on ESPN. Let's go, B's! 🐻