Boston
Marcus Johansson and Patrice Bergeron scored power-play goals 28 seconds apart, and Boston scored four times in the third period to rally from a one-goal deficit and beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final.
Tuukka Rask stopped 29 shots for Boston, which trailed 2-1 before capitalizing on back-to-back power plays. With about three minutes left, Brandon Carlo deflected a slow-rolling puck into the empty net to make it 4-2, and then 11 seconds later Chris Wagner skated in on Petr Mrazek to clinch it.
Steven Kampfer, starting for suspended defenseman Charlie McAvoy, also scored for Boston — his first career postseason goal — with about three minutes gone in the game.
Back in the net for the first time since Game 2 of the second-round series against the Islanders, Mrazek made 23 saves for the Hurricanes. Curtis McElhinney finished off New York, but coach Rod Brind'Amour went back to Mrazek when he was clear by doctors after the five-day break between series.
Sebastian Aho and Greg McKegg scored for Carolina.
Note: Toronto's John Tavares injured his side while practicing with the Canadian team and will miss the upcoming world championships in Slovakia. Hockey Canada said it contacted the Maple Leafs and it was agreed it was best for him to return to Toronto for further evaluation.
