On Tuesday night in Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston Bruins retired Willie O’Ree’s number 22. It will forever be in the rafters in TD Garden whenever the Bruins are on the ice. It was a great ceremony for a legend of the game. Once the puck dropped, it was another story on a night for Bruins fans and hockey. It went from a fairytale to an utter nightmare. The Carolina Hurricanes made it a game for Caniacs to enjoy.
The Hurricanes Rout the Bruins Early
Right from the puck drop, it was clear that the Hurricanes were going to shrug off their previous woes against the Bruins. Carolina came out flying and smothered Boston on either side of the ice. The Hurricanes forechecking made the Bruins defense scramble which in turn gave Carolina a good amount of chances early on. At the 3:44 mark of the first period, the Hurricanes would strike to start an onslaught in that period. Teuvo Teräväinen would start the scoring with a massive one-timer off of a gorgeous pass from teammate Jaccob Slavin. That would be Teräväinen’s 11th goal of the season and Slavin’s 18th assist.
What was better? Slavo’s pass or Turbo’s Finnish? pic.twitter.com/V4ylYznJcT
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
It wouldn’t take long for the Hurricanes to capitalize on the quick start as Jesperi Kotkaniemi would score his first of two goals, not of the night but the period, at the 6:03 mark to make it 2-0 Carolina. He was Mr. right place, at the right time as he took an Andrei Svechnikov shot off of a rebound from Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask and stuffed it home as he was on the doorstep. That would be Kotkaniemi’s eighth goal of the season and Svechnikov’s 17th assist as well.
Jesperi ? pic.twitter.com/Vv4tw6pvOg
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes had a 35 straight penalty kill streak going but was cut one kill short of tying the franchise record. It would take a puck bouncing off of Boston’s captain, Patrice Bergeron, to end the streak. Although, for Carolina that would be Boston’s only goal of the night.
Carolina Pours it on
It would only take 13 seconds for the Hurricanes to score after the Bruins powerplay goal with Kotkaniemi’s second goal of the night. This one was an absolute masterclass of hand-eye coordination as he deflected a Jaccob Slavin shot to make it 3-1 Carolina. Talk about having a night, moreover a period, Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
KK’s goal was a beauty.
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
Sorry. Second goal, that is. You know, cause he scored two. pic.twitter.com/GV3KwXJyCM
The Hurricanes would continue to pour it on as rookie sensation Seth Jarvis would create a highlight-reel goal showcasing his speed and stick handling. A loose puck just in front of the Bruins zone was picked up by Jarvis as he would turn on the jets, cut to the goal, and drop a shoulder on a Bruins defender before beating Rask short side to make it 4-1 at the 16:01 mark of the first period.
Jarvy is still fast as ? boi pic.twitter.com/3el5YQ5ZvU
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
One would think that would be it for Carolina in the first, unfortunately for Boston, that was not the case. Derek Stepan would make it 5-1 Carolina at the 16:57 mark to end a huge period for the Hurricanes. The goal was set up by a beautiful no-look pass from behind the net by Jordan Martinook. Stepan just had to get his stick on it and buried it past Rask.
No. 5 made us feel alive pic.twitter.com/f3HCH9a3Qa
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
Have a Night Jaccob Slavin
While there were no goals in the second period, the third period wouldn’t go scoreless. Jaccob Slavin, by the third period, already had two assists on the night. Although, those wouldn’t be the last points he would get. At the 3:05 mark of the third period, Slavin would rip an absolute snipe past goaltender Linus Ullmark, who replaced Rask after the first period, to make it 6-1 Carolina. That snipe would give Slavin three points on the night and cap off a first star of the game performance.
Jaccob Slavin is so good pic.twitter.com/V6zwj9HQqU
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
Before it was all said and done, Andrei Svechnikov would end the night for Carolina with a goal of his own. Sebastian Aho from behind the net would center a pass right to the stick of Svechnikov who would bury it past Ullmark to make it 7-1 Carolina. Initially, it looked like it came off of Vincent Trocheck‘s stick, but after review, it came back that it was Svechnilov who scored his 13th of the season at the 7:48 mark in the third period.
Yep. Andrei’s goal! pic.twitter.com/mhjNP2sKAr
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) January 19, 2022
Ever see a Prius Total a Lambo?
Before the game, there were some social media shenanigans between Carolina’s Vincent Trocheck and Boston’s Brad Marchand. A reporter asked if Trocheck could say his game was modeled like Marchand’s. Trocheck tongue-in-cheek said, “are you saying I’m a rat?” referring to Marchand’s reputation around the league. He said it jokingly, but agreed that the statement could be accurate. Marchand later on his Instagram said something along the lines of how he is a Lamborginhi and Trocheck a Prius. Well, unfortunately for Marchand, the Prius t-boned the Lambo in the game.
After the hit, social media was loving the Trocheck hit on Marchand because of the Instagram post. Everyone from Hockey Night In Canada to TNT made posts on social media about it. The initial one to kick it all off came from the Hurricane’s own Twitter account. Anyone who is on Twitter know’s that Carolina has one of the best social media teams on the planet. Their post did not disappoint.
Never seen a Prius total a Lambo before pic.twitter.com/NJ2uQY0raq
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2022
All in all, it was a great night to see Willie O’Ree seeing his number 22 getting retired for the Boston Bruins. Furthermore, the Hurricanes scored a touchdown against the Bruins so that was enjoyable for Carolina fans overall. Something tells everyone that there will be more games like this between these two teams before the season is over.
