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SPORTS Monday 13 May 2019

Bruins thump Hurricanes 6-2, take 2-0 lead in East finals

By JIMMY GOLEN early in the third period and the air on Mother’s Day to Brind’Amour said. “We with 15 minutes left before
AP Sports Writer it was still 3-2 with 4 minutes finish off the 1970 Stanley needed an answer and we Williams got Carolina on
BOSTON (AP) — With a five- to play. Cup, the Hall of Famer was didn’t have one.” the scoreboard.
goal, third-period lead and This one wasn’t ever close. in the building as a pre- Backes scored 1:10 into Notes: Duke coach Mike
the Bruins still not done scor-
ing, the crowd in the new
Boston Garden began a
throaty chant of “We want
the Cup!”
The next time they see their
team, the NHL’s champion-
ship trophy might be on the
line for real.
Matt Grzelcyk scored twice
— his first career multigoal
game — and Tuukka Rask
made 21 saves to lead the
Bruins to a 6-2 victory over
the Carolina Hurricanes on
Sunday and give Boston a
2-0 lead in the Eastern Con-
ference finals.
Connor Clifton had his first
career NHL goal — the 19th
Bruins player to score this
postseason, tying a fran-
chise record. Jake DeBrusk,
David Backes and Danton
Heinen also connected,
and Torey Krug and Char-
lie Coyle had three assists
apiece.
“It does feel contagious,”
said Boston coach Bruce
Cassidy, whose team won
its fifth straight game and
needs two more victories to Boston Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk (74) threads between defenders to beat Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek for a goal during
the first period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference final series, Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Boston.
reach the Stanley Cup Fi- Associated Press
nal for the third time in nine
seasons. “Everybody’s con- Petr Mrazek stopped just 19 game hype man known the third period, leaving Krzyzewski made a hype
tributing.” shots, and Boston led 6-0 as the banner captain. The Mrazek looking over to the video for the Hurricanes.
The series moves to Caro- before Williams and Teuvo crowd gave him a stand- bench to see if he would be ... Brad Marchand ap-
lina for Games 3 and 4 Teravainen scored in the ing ovation, and the team replaced. Brind’Amour said peared in his 99th career
on Tuesday and Thursday last nine minutes to deprive responded as well. Mrazek, who returned from playoff game. ... Carolina’s
nights. The Hurricanes need Rask of a seventh career Grzelcyk and DeBrusk an injury for Game 1 after Sebastian Aho was held
to win at least one to force postseason shutout. scored late in the first, and Curtis McElhinney started without a goal for the first
a fifth game back in Boston “The other night wasn’t Clifton made it 3-0 early in the last two games of the time in four games, leav-
on Saturday night. as bad. We were right in the second. With two min- East semifinals, had earned ing Bates Battaglia (2002)
“Sometimes you’ve got the game,” said Carolina utes left in the middle peri- the right to stay in if that’s and Ray Sheppard (1999)
to eat a poop sandwich. coach Rod Brind’Amour, od and Boston back on the what he wanted to do. the only players to score
It doesn’t taste good and whose team also fell be- power play, Heinen took a “We talked about it, but he in four straight for the fran-
you have to chew on it for hind 0-2 against the Wash- long pass out of the Boston doesn’t want to come out. chise. ... Krug is the fifth Bru-
a little bit,” Hurricanes cap- ington Capitals in the first zone from Marcus Johans- He’s a battler,” Brind’Amour ins defenseman with three
tain Justin Williams said. round before eliminating son and drew two defend- said. “A lot of other guys on or more assists in multiple
“We’ll have to do it for a the defending champions ers with him before sliding it the bench deserve to some playoff games. Orr and Ray
couple days and get the in seven. “They’re playing into the slot. out, if that’s how were do- Bourque did it five times
taste out of our mouth next their game; we haven’t Grzelcyk slipped the puck ing it.” apiece.
game.” gotten to ours.” over to his backhand and Heinen finished on a feed UP NEXT
The Bruins won 5-2 in Game Nearly a half century after beat Mrazek to make it 4-0. from Patrice Bergeron to Game 3 is Tuesday night in
1, but the Hurricanes led Bobby Orr soared through “That was the cooker,” give Boston a six-goal lead Raleigh, North Carolina.q