3 takeaways from the Bruins' decisive win over the Blue Jackets

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They kept the silent cannon to end the series.

The Boston Bruins played against a Columbus Blue Jackets team in their sixth playoff game. The Blue Jackets showed despair from the beginning. Tuukka Rask, however, could not hurt, as the Bruins goaltender held John Tortorella's group in check.

David Krejci, Marcus Johansson and David Backes made Rask's efforts worthwhile, with quick goals. And the date of the Bruins is now set with the Carolina Hurricanes in the finals of the Eastern Conference.

Here's what we learned from the Bruins' 3-0 win in a nationwide arena without artillery.

Tuukka Rask, Ladies and Gentlemen

Tortorella provided many items on the display board with his seventh game guarantee and his Boston goalie scare. Rask responded with his actions.

It was obviously not for want of trying on behalf of Columbus. The Blue Jackets have invaded Rask with quality scoring opportunities – especially for their three power play opportunities – and in forehead battles between Bruins defensemen. Rask secured his shoulder with spectacular stops in prime areas while facing traffic and physical play in front of him.

In the sixth game, there was not a single save for Rask who stands out from the rest, but rather 39 stops in all.

"I can answer that question, but it would take me 10 minutes to go through all the backups," Rask said when a journalist asked questions about the backups that concerned him. "There was traffic, quick shots, some posts. But it was difficult to choose one [save] outside [from the rest]. "

The spectacular Rask series ended in the best possible way with his first playoff white card since May 8, 2014 against the rival of the Montreal Canadiens. He met Sergei Bobrovsky, two-time winner of Vezina, who blocked Presidential Trophy winner Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning in four games.

Rask's performance in this second round series – 212 records on 223 shots – is right next to his outstanding performance against the Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals in 2013. Keeping this pace is a daunting task . But Rask, for most of the playoffs, gave his team a chance and that's all everyone can ask.

"He was definitely our most consistent player throughout the series," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of Rask. "Some guys gave us good performances from one game to another, but he was there every night and he certainly deserved the honors that came back to him. I'm proud of him. "

The Bruins have let things escape sometimes against the Blue Jackets. But Rask supported them with quality performances. They will need consistency from the 20 players against a group of hurricanes Hurricanes, sown of wounds and talent, during the third day.

Will Charlie McAvoy Meet Player Safety?

The success of Charlie McAvoy against Josh Anderson towards the end of the second period marked a turning point in his young career. Despite the high number of casualties in the area of ​​Anderson's head, the former Boston University champion served only a two-minute minor for an illegal check on his head.

The officials could have called something else a counter-check. But they opted for an illegal control at the head, which, under Rule 48.1, does not justify a major penalty or a game foul.

McAvoy served only a two-minute minor for the illegal check at Anderson's head. A potential hearing from the Player Safety Department could cast doubt on its availability against Carolina – at least to begin the series -.

Despite all the ugliness, McAvoy and Anderson kissed each other during the after-game handshake. The two seemed to put their differences aside when they were welcomed in the center of the ice.

David Backes is a keeper.

Bobrovsky was on his head in Game 3. The Bruins, however, did not have enough traffic in front of the Columbus goalkeeper to make his life harder.

Knowing this, Cassidy glanced at her training in the hope of finding a large body in front of which to sit in front of Bobrovsky. Enter David Backes, a physical but incoherent presence since his arrival in Boston before the 2016-17 season.

Despite all the ups and downs of his first three years, Backes has always entered unknown territory before the playoffs. The former Blues captain, for the first time in his career, found himself in great shape to begin the series of the first round of Boston with his rival, the Maple Leafs. He returned in Game 2 to ensure that physical presence, but found himself watching the press in Game 6 with the Bruins trolling three to two against two of the original Six 's rivals.

Backes returned in Game 4 after a five-game absence. He did his job distracting Bobrovsky in front of compatriots David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk, who obtained top-quality shooting attempts. The 35-year-old finished his playoff streak with his first playoff goal since the fifth game of last year's first-round series with the Leafs on April 28.

Long to come, indeed.

"As a physical presence, we go to the net and try not only to make room for my teammates, but also to distract goalkeepers and occupy defenders," said Backes of his condition. of mind. "If I stick to these principles, the rest of the game is self-regulating. And I feel I could have a big impact on the three games I played in this series. "

Backes can be in the press depending on the clashes. But his effective pass of three games in the second round marks a significant development in his roller coaster mandate with the Black and Gold.

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