Pre-Game Talk: ECQF GAME 5 4:08 PM - THE BEAR tries to harpoon the whale - NESN, SN, NBCSN, TVAS, 98.5 WBZ-FM

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Fenway

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The Boston Bruins finally unleashed the high-powered nature of their attack and find themselves on the cusp of advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins will look to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference's second round on Wednesday when they play Game 5 of their best-of-seven series versus the Carolina Hurricanes in Toronto. Boston owns a 3-1 lead in the series.

"We have a ton of character in our room," Bruins left winger Brad Marchand said. "We always say it's a process. We continue to impose our will."

The Bruins scored four goals in a 6-minute, 51-second span of the third period Monday night to erase a two-goal deficit and secure a 4-3 victory.

"We didn't have an answer," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "We've got to learn from that. The lack of push back, I haven't seen from this team. ... We've got to pick the pieces up. We've got a proud group in there and I'm sure they'll bounce back."

If Carolina staves off elimination, Game 6 follows Thursday without an off day in between.

"You have to be able to create your own energy on the bench," Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. "To see so many guys step up and make so many plays when it really mattered (was great)."

Boston has sputtered at times in finishing at the offensive end in the series. During its third-period frenzy, that was no longer an issue.

"It's the playoffs, you know they're going to come," Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook said. "They don't give you much. You're not going to run and gun with this team."

The Bruins have been without injured scoring leader David Pastrnak since he played in the series opener.
Carolina has concerns about captain Jordan Staal, who exited during Boston's third-period burst Monday night after absorbing an upper-body hit from McAvoy.

The Bruins held a 16-2 edge in shots in the third period.

"You need to be proactive offensively, and it worked out in our favor," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said.

The Hurricanes won't get forward Andrei Svechnikov after he was injured late in Game 3. Svechnikov also missed time in last year's first-round series, although Carolina rallied to upset the Washington Capitals in seven games.

"It's not just one guy who takes his spot, it has to be all of us," Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho said.

Boston has won both games since goalie Tuukka Rask opted to leave the team for personal reasons. Jaroslav Halak has filled in for the former Vezina Trophy recipient.

"They still have a great goalie out there," Aho said.

Carolina has rotated goalies Petr Mrazek and James Reimer in the series, so it would be the former's turn if that sequence continues.

"All you say is they have to win four," Hurricanes right winger Justin Williams said of the Bruins. "Right now, we don't have any leeway. ... It ain't over yet and we're going to give it our best."

Three games in the series have been decided by one goal, and the other was Boston's 3-1 victory in Game 3 on Saturday. The two-goal margin came as a result of a late empty-net tally.
 

BruinsFanMike82

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Random (admittedly cherry-picked) stats of the day:

Halak career in playoff day games:
4-2-0; 1.69 GAA; .946 Sv%

Halak career in Wednesday playoff games:
3-1-0; 1.76 GAA; .947 Sv%

-----

Mrazek career in playoff day games:
2-5-0; 3.22 GAA; .888 Sv%

Mrazek career in Wednesday games:
5-13-3; 2.70 GAA; .899 Sv%

Reimer career in day games:
4-7-1; 3.56 GAA; .881 Sv%

Reimer career in Wednesday playoff games:
0-2-0; 3.61 GA; .906 Sv%
 
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KnightofBoston

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Agreed. Although, if we do close it out I sort of wanted to see him play tomorrow before jumping into Game 1 next round so he could have a game under his belt facing next team.

Either way, close it out.

he’s a pro, it’s better he’s healthy. He doesn’t need the practice, he’ll get that a few shifts in whatever game he draws back in on
 

Aussie Bruin

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Hunt those whales!! (only the hockey kind please!)

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The Canes are going to come out giving everything they've got. Would expect nothing less of a Brind'Amour team. But if the Bruins can get the first goal or two, then it might well break their spirits and they could just fade out of the game rather like they did in G4 last year. As Aeroforce said earlier, 4th win is the hardest, but let's go get it now. I think Tampa will unfortunately finish off the Blue Jackets shortly, so facing them as fresh as possible is going to be important.

Let's go Bruins!!
 

Scruffy

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Halak needs to be better. Gotta keep finishing their hits as the Canes were flinching at all contact after the McAvoy hit on Monday. It wears them down and backs them off the puck.
 
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caz16

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I didn't think Halak was that bad. With the Bruins outshooting the Canes 8-0 at the beginning of the game, I had a feeling the first shots they got would result in a goal. How many times do we see that? Goalies are better getting constant action.

Please win, let's not play back to back.
 
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KnightofBoston

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Mar 22, 2010
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With Tampa, Philly, and the Islanders on the brink of moving on, the B’s can’t afford to dink around and let this thing turn into a 6 or 7 game series.

Take care of business.

the bruins are also up 3-1, and therefor on the brink as well if those teams are on the “brink”

Any one of those teams could easily lose game 5 and have it get extended, especially the islanders

but I do agree the bruins should finish this today particularly to give bergeron and pasta more rest
 
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