Peter Koutroumpis
RALEIGH, N.C. – Well, the Carolina Hurricanes’ rest between Stanley Cup playoff series is over.
The Hurricanes will face the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final, marking the fifth head-to-head postseason meeting between the franchises.
The Bruins own a 3-1 edge in the four previous series, matchups that each required no fewer than six games.
For the nostalgic ones, two of those series took place prior to the 1997-98 season when the Hurricanes franchise played in Hartford – a part of the history of the former ‘Battle of New England’ rivalry.
Some interesting notes (via NHL.com) from those past meetings between the two clubs:
- In the 1990 Division Semifinals, the Bruins rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits before earning a 3-1 win in Game 7 to eliminate the Whalers. Bruins President and Alternate Governor Cam Neely and future Whalers/Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley assisted on the series-clinching goal by Craig Janney – a native of Hartford.
- In the 1991 Division Semifinals, Neely led all Bruins players with five goals (5-3—8 in 6 GP) as Boston skated to a six-game triumph over Hartford.
- In the 1999 Conference Quarterfinals, Anson Carter scored the double-overtime winner in Game 5 as Boston took a 3-2 series lead over Carolina before Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe earned a series-clinching shutout in Game 6.
Overtime finishes
In the 2009 Conference Semifinals, Scott Walker scored the overtime winner in Game 7 to power the Hurricanes past the Bruins, marking Carolina’s last postseason series win prior to the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Walker became the first player in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score an overtime goal in a Game 7 – a feat Canes forward Brock McGinn also accomplished in the 2019 First Round series win over the defending Stanley Cup-defending Washington Capitals.
2018-2019 regular season
The Bruins held a 2-1-0 edge in the three-game season series with the Hurricanes during the regular season (CAR: 1-1-1).
Carolina donned vintage Hartford jerseys for two of those contests, including on Dec. 23, 2018 when Sebastian Aho (2g, 2a) and Teuvo Teravainen (2g, 2a) each collected four points and led the Hurricanes to victory on Whalers Night at PNC Arena.
Peter Koutroumpis: 401-323-8960, @pksport