Boston Bruins: Why a sweep could actually hurt team

With a 2-1 victory in Game 3 Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins are now one win away from a Stanley Cup berth, and a sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Boston Bruins are absolutely dominating the Eastern Conference Finals. Through three games, Boston has outscored Carolina 13-5.

Tuukka Rask has been phenomenal throughout the playoffs, as he is on the brink of leading his team back to the Stanley Cup since 2013. With the Bruins up in the series 3-0, they only need 1 more game to advance. Boston will go for the sweep Thursday night in enemy territory.

As awesome as an Eastern Conference Finals sweep would be, it could actually be detrimental to their success in the next round.

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With the Western Conference Finals looking like an absolute war, the Bruins could end up having to wait over a week if they successfully sweep Carolina. Over that week, Boston could lose all their momentum they have built up so far and potentially could come out flat for the Stanley Cup Final.

The Western champion would have just played a (long) hard-fought series and would easily be able to get right back into it for the Cup Final. Game 7 between the Sharks and Blues is scheduled for May 23, meaning the Boston Bruins would have at least a week off if that series went the distance, not to mention adding the few days of rest given to the Western champion on top of the Bruins already long enough layoff.

In the 2019 NHL Playoffs, teams that swept have not had much luck in the following round. In the first round, the New York Islanders swept the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After waiting 10 days for their next game, the Islanders ended up getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes who came off a Game 7 victory over the Washington Capitals. These same Carolina Hurricanes had to wait 6 days before the start of the Eastern Conference Finals and now face a 3-0 series deficit.

The Columbus Blue Jackets swept the Tampa Bay Lightning in a very shocking first round matchup. They then had to wait 9 days to start their second round matchup against Boston. Coming off their own Game 7 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins took care of Columbus in 6 games. Notice a trend here?

Now, I’m not rooting against a sweep and pulling for Carolina in Game 4 by any means. It’s just that the Bruins could end up halting their momentum, while their potential opponent still has a game every other day while you sit and wait.

Yes, the Boston Bruins could most definitely use the rest ; as that would be the most beneficial thing to them if they win Game 4 Thursday. Whoever wins the Western Conference is going to be exhausted, considering both teams won their respective Game 7’s in the second round to advance. With the Sharks and Blues splitting the first two games, this series has the making and feel of going the distance.

However the rest of the conference finals plays out, the winning coaches will do whatever it takes to have their teams ready to play one more series.

This is Lord Stanley’s Cup we’re talking about, the toughest championship in sports. Any team that makes it is going to leave it all on the line and give their very best effort. Hopefully, the Bruins will be one of the final two teams standing this season.

In order to have that right, they have to take care of business on Thursday in Game 4 against Carolina.

The Hurricanes’ season is on the line, so you can expect them to throw the kitchen sink at the Bruins, as they don’t want to get eliminated in front of their home crowd.

The way the Boston Bruins have played so far, leads me to believe they can handle the Hurricanes best effort. Only time will tell, and we will see Thursday.

Go B’s.