3 Keys: Bruins at Hurricanes, Game 5 of Eastern First Round

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League(WC1) Bruins at (1M) Hurricanes7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, TVAS2, BSSO, NESNBest-of-7 series tied 2-2The Carolina Hurricanes will attempt to wrest back momentum from the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round as they return home to PNC Arena for Game 5 on Tuesday.The Bruins won the past two games at home, 4-2 in Game 3 on Friday and 5-2 in Game 4 on Sunday, after the Hurricanes won the first two games of the series in Raleigh.Before Games 3 and 4, the Bruins had lost five straight regular-season and playoff games this season to the Hurricanes and had been outscored 26-4.It has been quite a turnaround for the Bruins, one predicated on the improved play of their reunited top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, and their power play, even as they have played without their top two defensemen, Hampus Lindholm (undisclosed injury) and Charlie McAvoy (COVID-19 protocol)."We're looking forward to the challenge tonight," Bruins forward Taylor Hall said. Everyone's talking about the bad things, but there's way more good that's going on."Teams that win Game 5 when a series is tied 2-2 hold an all-time series record of 219-58 (.791), including a 6-0 record in the 2021 playoffs.Here are 3 keys for Game 5:The Bruins managed to win Game 4 despite missing Lindholm and McAvoy. Lindholm hasn't played since he was injured on a hit by Andrei Svechnikov late in the second period of Game 2 and McAvoy was placed into COVID-19 protocol just before Game 4.Both players remain out for Game 5.Boston found a way to win with solid play from their other defensemen, including Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton, and will need more of the same if Boston hopes to take the lead in the series.Matt Grzelcyk said the Bruins have been cleaner on their breakouts and they've been able to work together as five-man units as they make adjustments without Lindholm and McAvoy."Obviously we'd love to have those guys back in the lineup," Grzelcyk said. That's the game."The Hurricanes have scored the first goal in each of the first four games of the series, something that the Bruins will look to change in Game 5."They're a fantastic hockey team," Hall said.