The Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets now know that they will face the Carolina Hurricanes when they pass the second round.



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The Bruins and Blue Jackets will meet in the fifth game of the second round of the Eastern Conference on Saturday with a chance to move unless a win in the final of the Conference of the United States. Is.

The Carolina Hurricanes are awaiting the winner of this series after completing the New York Islanders' sweep with a 5-2 win on Friday.

Carolina took part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the first blank card in the East, and then thwarted the defending champion, the Washington Capitals, in seven games. The Hurricanes have won six straight victories.

"Well, they have a good team, they play hard, they are young, they are on the puck, they are physical," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Saturday morning. "It's a good mix, for me, of physics and speed. They have the goalkeeper. I think everyone was worried: "Will it be as good as their opposition?" It's clear even with the guy [Petr Mrazek] to hurt yourself. It's a beautiful story, tells you that once you're there, everyone can start and different types score points. This is not like [Sebastian] Aho has 20 points, a guy who has been their main guy all year, different types bring their contribution, their D are obviously active. So full [credit] To advance. "

Of course, the Bruins can not miss out on a team from Columbus who, just days ago, led the series before Boston's game 4 victory on Thursday. Having a known opponent for the next turn could be a distraction if the Bruins let him become, but they are not about to let that happen.

"We are looking at other playoffs for sure, we really need to focus on us," said Bruins forward Chris Wagner. And it's more than doing everything we can to get to the next round, no matter who we play with. It's more about tonight and the next 10 hours.

"So yes, I mean good for them and fast, but that's not what we're focusing on."

* Wagner could equip himself Saturday for the first time since match 2, as striker Noel Acciari, who did not skate Saturday morning, will be a decisive decision. Wagner has not scored points in seven games this season, but he has been solid in his role as Auditor General and physical presence.

Nevertheless, Cassidy has often opted for rookie Karson Kuhlman because of his speed. And in Game 4, Cassidy chose to turn to David Backes.

"Mentally, it's not easy," said Wagner, who scored 12 goals and seven assists in 76 regular season games. "I do not know if I did something great to stay. I mean, I played well, I think. But you want to do that next step, a bigger impact, and I do not know what, maybe he scores a goal, he wins every battle, and so on. Yes, but you know that you must support and encourage your teammates. You know it's nice to see that Backs gets into the training and what he brought for the fourth game. You want to somehow be that guy when you come back in training. "

* The Bruins lost Game 5 of their first-round streak against Toronto at home and then had to make a comeback with two home-and-away victories to come out of this series. They hope to have learned a lesson from it in order not to be in the same situation with the Blue Jackets.

"Yes, I think it was, if I remember correctly, it was our worst effort, our worst performance of the previous series," said Backes. "So, to make that jump, to make sure that we will not let any opportunity pass and that we have to play makeup later, it will certainly be a necessary lesson to have learned the latest series and apply it now a few weeks later.

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