Boston Bruins (51-26-5, fourth in the Atlantic Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (54-20-8, first in the Metropolitan Division)
Raleigh, North Carolina; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -122, Bruins +102; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Hurricanes host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins to open the Eastern Conference first round. The teams meet Monday for the sixth time this season. The Hurricanes went 5-0 against the Bruins in the regular season. In their last regular season matchup on May 2, the Hurricanes won 5-1.
Carolina is 54-20-8 overall and 27-8-4 at home. The Hurricanes have gone 14-7-2 in games they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponents.
Boston is 24-11-3 on the road and 51-26-5 overall. The Bruins have gone 13-7-0 in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sebastian Aho has 37 goals and 44 assists for the Hurricanes. Brady Skjei has one goal and eight assists over the last 10 games.
Patrice Bergeron has scored 25 goals with 39 assists for the Bruins. Taylor Hall has five goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 8-2-0, averaging four goals, 6.7 assists, 3.8 penalties and 8.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
Bruins: 6-4-0, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.3 assists, four penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Hurricanes: Frederik Andersen: day to day (undisclosed), Jake Gardiner: out (hip/back).
Bruins: Jakub Zboril: out (lower body).
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