The intensity in the first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs was high. Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta and Bruins defender Hampus Lindholm left the game with injuries.
It was Carolina that took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after beating the Bruins in Raleigh, North Carolina. Through the first two games, Boston was whitewashed by a 10-3 score.
The hitting began early Wednesday and continued to the final whistle.
Raanta went down in the first period after colliding with Pastrnak. Raanta left the game with an upper-body injury and Pastrnak was assessed a two-minute penalty for goalie interference.
Raanta wasn't in concussion protocol, but Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amor didn't have an update on him after the win.
What do you think about Pastrnak deliberately targeting Raanta? It is obvious.
Bruce Cassidy had a different take on the incident.
Cassidy said that Pastrnak tried to chase down a puck on the power play. He is trying to get out of the way.
In the second frame, Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov flattened Lindholm along the boards with a blow that left the blueliner shaken. Lindholm tried to get up on his own, but was helped off the ice by goaltender Ullmark and team trainers, and he was out from there with a lower-body injury.
Carlo and Svechnikov earned roughing minor for the ensuing scrum after Carlo defended his teammate.
Lindholm has an upper-body injury, Cassidy said. Hit was on time, but it looked high. The referees did not see it that way.
Cassidy was not sure if Lindholm would be going back to Boston with the team on Wednesday or if he would be taken to the hospital.
Svechnikov said that Lindholm was a hard hit.
Brad Marchand took a shot at Pyotr Kochetkov, the third-string goalie for the Hurricanes, later in the second period. Kochetkov took exception to Marchand's smack and gave the Bruins' agitator one back that led to offsetting slashing calls handed out to each side.
Kochetkov was the youngest goalie to ever make his playoff debut. He had played only 149 NHL minutes through three appearances for Carolina before he was called upon in Game 2, but produced a 3-0-0 record with a 2.42 GAA and.902 SV%.
He made 30 saves on 32 shots.
The two teams will play Game 3 at the Garden.
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