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ESPN staff
The Carolina Hurricanes Boston BruinsOn Sunday, Game 4 of the NHL’s Hockey League will be played on the ice. first-round playoff series (ESPN at 12:30 ET(), as the Bruins aim to tie it up at two games apiece, while the Canes look to bring a 3-1 lead home for Game 5.
To help get you ready for the game, we’ve put together a guide on all the key players to watch for each team, including in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Stats & Information, as well as paths to victory for each club, courtesy of Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski. Wyshynski, Shilton, and Wyshynski also offer their final score predictions.
The Stanley Cup playoffs return to ESPN networks in 2022: ESPN2 & ESPN3 will broadcast the first- and third-round games. One conference finals series will air on ESPN2 while the Cup finals will air on ABC.
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How to bet Bruins-Hurricanes
12:30 p.m. ET | Watch live on ESPN
Line: Boston -135 | Over/under: 5.5
Hurricanes
Top playoff scorerC Vincent Trocheck(Two goals, two assists); Tony DeAngelo(four assists); Jaccob Slavin(One goal, three assists).
Way to successCarolina’s top players must play like that. The Hurricanes didn’t have enough star power in Friday’s Game 3 defeat, so Boston finally got the advantage with big performances from its top-tier players like David Pastrnak. Carolina performed well in the series’ two first games, which helped to limit the space Pastrnak could take up. Taylor HallCarolina was forced to make plays after a good first period. However, Carolina seemed to lose her composure when the ice tilted in Boston’s favour.
The most successful playoff teams are those that can deal with momentum swings. The Hurricanes must engage their top six players again, provide support for the netminder in the crease by using stronger positional defense, and then play to their strengths. Carolina has all of the tools. The Hurricanes need to use their tools again with confidence in order to get Boston under control in the best-of-7. — Kristen Shilton
Insights from ESPN Stats & Information:
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A team with a 2-1 series lead holds a series record (369-158,.700), which includes a 7-4 record in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs (2-4 in the first round). The Hurricanes are 3-0 when they have a series lead of 2-1 and win Game 4. They are 2-3 when they have a series lead of 2-1 and lose Game 4.
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Nino NiederreiterHe has scored three goals in his three playoff games. This is the highest number of Hurricanes players. His three goals thus far are the second highest he has achieved in a playoff run. This is behind his goals in 10 games with Minnesota in the 2015 playoffs.
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This series was historic for both the Hurricanes and the Bruins. It became the first Stanley Cup playoffs series to feature multiple games with opposing goaltenders, making it the first time in Stanley Cup playoffs history. Linus Ullmark(BOS). Antti Raanta(CAR), each of whom did so in Game 1. Jeremy Swayman(BOS). Pyotr Kochetkov (CAR) did so in Game 3.
Bruins
Top playoff scorer Brad Marchand(One goal, three assists).
Way to successRecall what happened in Game 3 and do it again. Coach Bruce Cassidy reunited Brad Marchand’s top line. Patrice BergeronDavid Pastrnak They scored an even goal and prospered without the Hurricanes matching. Jordan StaalTo counter them,’s checking line. Staal was on the ice against Marchand for 8:16 in Game 2. In Game 3, the Bruins had the last change and they shared the ice only for 1:30. The Bergeron line was also matched. Sebastian AhoTake out the top line of your email and close it.
Jeremy Swayman, a rookie goalie, must be as skilled as he was in Game 3. Carolina scored the game’s first goal for the third consecutive game. But, for the first-time, the Bruins couldn’t allow a second goal in the three minutes that followed to get the snowball rolling downhill. The veterans played well, with smart coaching and special-teams advantage. Repeat that, and you’ll get an even series. — Greg Wyshynski
Insights from ESPN Stats & Information:
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Both Marchand and Bergeron scored during this playoff series. They are getting closer to the franchise record of 55 goals by a Bruins player in the playoffs. Cam Neely).
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Marchand scored his 15th career playoff goal in Game 3. The Bruins have had only two players with more goals in their history. David Krejci(19), Rick Middleton (17), & Johnny Bucyk (17).
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The Bruins hold a record of 114-27%-17 during regular season, when Pastrnak (Marchand) and Bergeron each record a point. The Bruins’ record during the 2021-22 regular-season was 19-4-1, when all three of them recorded a point.
Final score predictions
Kristen Shilton: Hurricanes, 4-2
Greg Wyshynski: Bruins, 4-3