Bruins Nation

What a wonderful first period, what a crappy game. Carolina, the reigning Stanley cup champions really took advantage of every scoring opportunity whereas the Bruins just didn't.

Paul Mara didn't play, and PJ Axelsson was a last second scratch. So Petr Tenkrat ended up taking PJ Axelsson's place in the line-up.

In the first period, two minutes in, the game started out with a huge cheap shot on Mark Stuart by Andrew Ladd. Shean Donovan then came and picked a fight with Ladd. Nothing happened though, both guys hugged and tumbled to the ice, Ladd on top of Donovan. Donovan's bad fight was like a bad gift, it's the thought that counts.

Anyway, a half a minute after the "fight", Milan Jurcina misplayed and gave up the puck behind the Bruins net. This led to a very easy Hurricanes goal by Eric Staal. Ten minutes later Mark Mowers tipped the puck in the neutral zone. Wayne Primeau got the puck and then passed it to Shean Donovan still in the neutral zone. Donovan then flew down the ice and scored on a nice wrist shot. One minute later Brad Boyes, in the Hurricanes zone, passed it to Patrice Bergeron who passes it to Marco Sturm. Sturm was right next to the goal and shot a one-timer that was blocked. Brad Stuart the got the rebound and scored. The first period ended with the Bruins up 2-1. I was feeling really optomistic at this point, but it was false hope.

Towards the beginning of the second period, Erik Cole blocked a drive by Stuart and got the puck. Cole skated all the way down the ice to the Bruins goal and then easily scored an unassited goal on Thomas, tying up the game. Then, later in the period on a Bruins power play, Chara couldn't handle a pass at the Hurricanes blue line. Rod Brind'Amour got the puck and passed ahead to a wide open Justin Williams who scored easily.

In the middle of third period, Erik Cole dumped the puck into the Bruins zone. Scott Walker then beat Jason York to the puck in the Bruins zone. Walker then passed to Erik Staal who beat Brad Stuart. Staal then scored easily on Thomas, his second goal of the game. Then, later in the third period, the Hurricanes had a 3-2 odd man rush in the Bruins zone. This led to Ray Whitney of the Hurricanes shooting a specatcular shot over the shoulder of Thomas. And the game ended 5-2.