The Bruins head into Raleigh with plenty rolling their way, and they’re getting a direct test against the team sitting right alongside them at the top of the league standings.
Boston is 9-2-1 and riding an eight-game point streak at 7-0-1, while Carolina comes in at 9-2-2 with a one-point edge over the Bruins for first place in both the Eastern Conference and the NHL. The Hurricanes have been on a similar tear after opening with back-to-back losses, winning nine of their last 11.
They just blanked Jim Montgomery’s St. Louis Blues 4-0, with Pyotr Kochetkov earning his first shutout of the season.
Kochetkov is perfect so far at 7-0-0, and Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 18 points on 7 goals and 11 assists.
Boston has done its damage on the road, too. The Bruins are 4-1-1 away from home, and they’ve already banked seven of eight possible points on their last road trip. They swept their two-game homestand last week with wins over Nashville and San Jose, and they currently hold a three-point lead in the Atlantic Division with Ottawa and Toronto still in pursuit.
This one also shapes up as a matchup of two teams that can score and stop the puck at an elite level. Boston ranks in the NHL’s top three in both goals for and goals against, putting up 4.00 per game while allowing 2.17. Carolina sits fourth in both categories, averaging 3.92 goals for and 2.46 against.
Jeremy Swayman is expected to get the start for Boston. He enters at 7-1-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Pyotr Kochetkov is the likely Carolina starter after going 7-0-0 with a 1.70 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
The Bruins are set to skate at Lenovo Center at 11:30 AM, with updates from Marco Sturm to follow.
Boston’s special teams have been solid, if not spectacular. The Bruins’ power play is clicking at 22.2 percent, good for 12th in the league, while the penalty kill sits at 78.6 percent, 18th. Carolina’s numbers are stronger across the board, with a 25.5 percent power play ranked eighth and an 83.7 percent penalty kill ranked ninth.
The projected Carolina lineup has William Carrier centering Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov on the top line, followed by Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake. Taylor Hall is listed with Seth Jarvis and Jordan Martinook, while Eric Robinson skates with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Skyler Brind’Amour. On defense, the Hurricanes are projected to pair Jaccob Slavin with Jalen Chatfield, K’Andre Miller with Sean Walker, and Shayne Gostisbehere with Juuso Valimaki.
The teams will see each other three times this season, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27 in Carolina at 8:00 PM. They meet again Sunday, Dec. 13 in Carolina at 1:00 PM, before closing the season series Tuesday, Jan. 12 in Boston at 7:00 PM.
Boston’s upcoming schedule continues with a Thursday, Oct. 29 visit to St. Louis at 8:00 PM, then a home date against Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1:00 PM. The Bruins then host Vegas on Monday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 PM, travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 PM, and welcome Florida on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 PM.
In Other News...
Bruins Face A Tough Call On A Veteran Forward Drawing Buzz
The early chatter around the Senators search for forward help has put a few familiar names into circulation, and one of them is drawing attention inside the Bruins orbit. League talk has centered on a small pool of possible trade candidates, with Teuvo Tervinen, Michael Rasmussen and Andrew Copp among the players mentioned as options as clubs try to sort through a thin market.
For Boston, the interesting part is Mikey Eyssimonts place in the mix. He is in the final year of his contract and has been thriving with Providence, which makes him a useful depth option if the Bruins need help because of injuries and a player whose status can change quickly if the trade market keeps tightening. If the Senators or another team eventually come calling for forward pieces, Boston may have to weigh whether to keep a veteran who is playing well in the AHL or turn him into part of a larger roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Send Young Defenseman A Clear Message After Rough Night
Marco Sturms decision to scratch Frederic Brunet for the game against the St. Louis Blues was a clear reminder that roster spots have to be earned every night, especially for a young defenseman still trying to settle in. Brunet had done enough in training camp to make the team and saw regular ice during Charlie McAvoys suspension, so his place in the picture has not disappeared. But after a difficult outing against the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston chose to give him a reset rather than let the struggles carry over.
For a Bruins blue line that has already leaned on several moving parts early in the season, the move fits the practical side of coaching as much as the developmental side. Sturm has shown he is willing to reward performance and pull back when needed, and Brunets situation is the latest example of that approach. The expectation is that he will get another chance soon, with Chicago next on the schedule, but for now the message from the bench is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Forward Suddenly Enters A Rival's Search For Scoring Help
Ottawa is already working the phones for scoring help, and a Bruins fan watching the Atlantic may want to keep an eye on a familiar name. Senators general manager Steve Staios is exploring trade options for a winger after injuries thinned out his forward group, with Warren Foegele hurt and William Eklund sidelined following ankle surgery. The list of possible targets has a few different shapes to it, from established skill to more versatile depth, which suggests Ottawa is casting a fairly wide net as it tries to stay afloat offensively.
For Boston, the intrigue is less about the Senators immediate needs than the timing of any move. Staios would rather hold off on a major acquisition until the trade deadline gets closer, and that leaves this search in an early, fluid stage for now. Still, when a division rival starts looking for help on the wing, the market can shift quickly, and a Bruins-connected name could wind up in the middle of it before long. [Read more 🡒]