Things get nasty in Bruins-Canes series with Marchand at the center of it

I don’t remember seeing a series get this physical this early, but this is what’s happening between the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins early in this first round series.

As the Bruins are trailing behind in the game and in the series, things quickly got nasty between the two teams. On Wednesday, the first period of Game 2 ended with an intense scrum before both clubs went back to their respective dressing room.

In the second period as the Canes got the lead and kept pressing, the Bruins got in trouble as they became frustrated with Carolina’s intensity.

It got out of hand when Andrei Svechnikov delivered a nasty hit on Hampus Lindholm. He was not penalty for the hit, but was sent to the box for roughing Brandon Carlo, who came to the defense of his Bruins’ teammate.

Then, things went downhill as goalie Pyotr Kochetkov started poking Brad Marchand, who you could tell was trying his best to control himself, but ended up cracking and hitting the netminder back to get sent to the penalty box as well.

The Bruins’ penalty box got crowded as Marchand was joined seconds later by Derek Forbort and the Hurricanes scored on the power play.

This is all the evidence of things going nasty fast in this series. 17 penalties called so far in this one - all minors - by referees Dan O'Rourke and Brian Pochmara.