A MUST WIN: Boston players celebrate their 4–2 victory in Game 6. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The Bruins needed a win in order to stay alive and bring the series back to Boston for Game 7.
Building off the energy gained from Game 5 on Sunday, they did just that.
Right out of the box, the Bruins put plenty of pressure on Canes netminder Cam Ward and scored two goals early in the first period.
The first goal was scored by veteran Mark Recchi as he crashed Carolina’s net with teammate Patrice Bergeron. The second goal came three minutes later from defenseman Steve Montador with a hard slap shot, his first of the series.
The first period ended with the Bruins taking a commanding 2–0 lead and looking much like the team that won by a convincing shutout in Game 5.
Down two goals, Carolina decreased Boston’s lead minutes into the second period as veteran center Matt Cullen skated down low near the Bruins net and was fed by teammate Scott Walker.
Walker, who escaped suspension for his punch on Aaron Ward in Game 5, fought hard to keep the puck in play and Cullen attacked the net, slapping the puck past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, cutting the score to 2–1.
The boisterous home crowd erupted.
But they wouldn’t have long to celebrate as Boston’s Marc Savard scored six minutes later.
Savard’s goal was setup by winger Milan Lucic who fed him a quick pass after he skated towards the Carolina net, fending off defenders. The Bruins re-established a two-goal lead and sunk Carolina’s rising spirit after a nice effort from the powerful Lucic.
The arena became even quieter with under two minutes remaining in the period as Boston scored after a centering pass by Bergeron was drilled home by winger Chuck Kobasew, extending the Boston lead to 4–1.
Sergei Samsonov added one more for Carolina but that was as close as the Canes would come.
With that goal, one might have hoped for another Carolina late-game miracle but Boston’s defense would clamp down for the rest of the period and make sure there would be no last-second heroics by the Canes.
The Bruins have the momentum, the confidence, and the hometown crowd behind them for Thursday’s decider. The Eastern Conference’s other semifinal between Washington and Pittsburgh will also be decided in Game 7.
