Canes lose special teams battle, game five, bow out in first round

Much like game four, the Canes started game five of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins well. Much like game four, they didn’t finish well, which is why their season is over following a 2-1 loss.

Haydn Fleury scored the Canes’ lone goal, and Petr Mrazek made 25 saves. A couple of untimely second period penalties and power play goals surrendered and a lackluster third period were the difference in this one. Carolina finished the game 0 for 3 on the power play, while the Bruins were 2 for 4.

Following a bit of a feeling out process to start, Haydn Fleury gave the Canes the lead with his second goal of the series, creeping in from the point and sniping a shot through a Jordan Martinook screen to make it 1-0 Canes.

The Bruins nearly tied the game a few minutes later, but Mrazek waited him out and made a sharp stop to keep his side in front.

The Canes looked dangerous throughout the opening period, and took a 1-0 lead to the intermission after easily their best first 20 minutes of the series.

A pair of Boston power plays in the last six minutes of the second period came back to haunt Carolina.

Patrice Bergeron had a golden chance with a breakaway following a missed slash in the Boston zone with about six minutes left in the second, but Seabastian Aho hooked him to prevent a goal. Boston took advantage on the ensuing power play, as a loose puck bounced to David Krejci and he knocked it home to tie it at one.

Martinook was whistled for boarding with 49 seconds left in the second, again after a missed call in Boston’s end. That one also proved very costly, as Bergeron banked one in off Mrazek’s skate on a goal Carolina’s starter will want back with three seconds left in the period to make it a 2-1 game.

Warren Foegele went to the sin bin for holding less than a minute into the third period, but the Canes killed it to stay in the game. Carolina got a power play of its own shortly after as old

friend Joakim Nordstrom went off for a hold, but came up empty for the third time in the game.

With Boston again up a man with about 12 minutes left, Krejci fired off the crossbar with an open net to keep it at a 2-1 game, and the Canes killed that one as well.

The Canes weren’t able to generate anything in the way of a dangerous chance the entire final period, and only mustered six shots on goal. Brind’Amour pulled Mrazek for an extra skater with two minutes left, but the Canes couldn’t find the equalizer, and the season faded away.

Stay tuned to Canes Country in the coming days and weeks for post-mortem series content, as well as looks ahead to this offseason and next regular season.