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Bruins vs. Panthers Preview |
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Hey, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here and with it, important hockey!
Unless you live under a rock, or you're deciding to give this hockey thing a try for the first time, you already know how the Bruins got here.
They won, and won a lot. They won the most and because they won the most, they won the President’s Trophy. They also won so much, more than anyone has ever in the history of the National Hockey League.
Got it? Good.
After a dominating regular season last year, the Panthers struggled this season. Massive inconsistencies in net and injuries defined the Panthers season. Florida bounced back from a tough late stretch to earn the East’s final wild card spot.
Today feels like Christmas. But instead of Santa Claus bringing presents, we—hopefully—get David Pastrnak bringing goals.
Also, kudos to the NHL for finally staggering games (7:00 PM EST, 7:30, 9:30 and 10) so that not every game is at intermission at the same time.
Creative, I’d say.
Season Series:
Split 2-2
Schedule:
Game 1: 4/17 7:30 PM @ Boston
Game 2: 4/19 7:30 PM @ Boston
Game 3: 4/21 7:30 PM @ Florida
Game 4: 4/23 3:30 PM @ Florida
Game 5: 4/26 TBD @ Boston
Game 6: 4/28 TBD @ Florida
Game 7: 4/30 TBD @ Boston
Health, how are you?
Both the Bruins and Panthers come into the series with question marks thanks to health surrounding their better players.
After leaving Thursday’s regular season finale in Montreal with an upper-body injury, Patrice Bergeron did not practice on Saturday or Sunday. A bit alarming if you ask me.
After the game Thursday, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said Bergeron was fine and wanted to return to Thursday’s game, Montgomery said no.
Throw in an illness to Bergeron’s ailments—an illness going around the Bruins room—and his status for tonight remains unknown.
"That’s to be decided [Monday]," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. "If he feels well enough, he’ll play. Patrice doesn’t need extra days of practice. If he feels better, he'll play."
David Krejci who has not played since April, 1st practiced both Saturday and Sunday and is expected to be back in the lineup for Game 1 Monday night.
On the other end of the ice, Panthers’ forward Sam Bennett’s status for Game 1 is up in the air. Bennett sustained a groin injury in mid-March, he’s missed the Panthers’ last 12 games. Bennett traveled to Boston with the team.
While Game 1 seems like it may be pushing an early return, Bennett should be back at some point during the series.
Sasha Barkov missed practice on Sunday, but Panthers’ head coach Paul Maurice did not seem worried, joking that Barkov would play “47 minutes” in Game 1 and his absence Sunday was to allow him extra rest.
Offense on full display
Both the Bruins and Panthers like to score goals (who doesn’t?) and both are very good at it. The Bruins average a Eastern Conference best 3.67 goals per game, the Panthers 3.51 goals per game.
Matthew Tkachuk is awesome and was really awesome for the Panthers this year with 40 goals and 69 assists, setting a career high in assists and points.
Tkachuk also had a career high 123 penalty minutes. Don’t be surprised to see Tkachuk and Marchand joining each other to create a lot of nonsense, they’re both a massive nuisance on the ice.
David Pastrnak is a wizard and scored 61 times. Only some guy named Connor McDavid scored more goals. He is kind of good at hockey, too.
If Bergeron is unable to go in Game 1, or any ensuing games, Pavel Zacha will step up and fill Bergeron’s role. Zacha was outstanding for the Bruins this year after coming to Boston in the off-season via a trade with New Jersey.
Zacha set career highs in goals, (21) assists (36) and points (57).
DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
I’ve heard that chanted at hockey games before and wanted to yell. Please keep that for Basketball, Football or wherever else it’s appropriate to chant.
Given the Bruins depth of defense, someone worthy of being in the lineup won’t earn the privilege of suiting up for Game 1. Based off Sunday’s practice, Matt Grzelcyk will be the odd man out.
Dmitry Orlov skated on the top pairing with Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm with Brandon Carlo and Derek Forbort with Connor Clifton.
Defensively, the Panthers are not as stout on the backend, but do feature a very solid top pairing in Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad.
Ekblad is so much fun to watch, he plays the game so well. His crazy rash of injuries over the last few years has been such a blow to the league. Players like Ekblad make hockey fun.
Brandon Montour has been very strong at times for Florida, he’s certainly a player to keep an eye on.
Goalies Gonna Goalie
I don’t even know what that means, but it sounded cool, so I’ll roll with it.
The Bruins situation in net is rock solid. Linus Ullmark was just downright stupid good this season and is a lock for the Vezina Trophy. Jeremey Swayman recovered from a rough start to the season and was also awesome.
People love when they hug.
It’s likely that at some point during the playoffs, Swayman will get the call in net. If, or, when he does, the Bruins shouldn’t miss a beat.
The Panthers’ are home to hockey’s highest paid goalie. His name is Sergei Bobrovsky. However, Bobrovsky hasn’t appeared in a game since March 27 due an illness.
In his absence, and the absence of Spencer Knight, the Panthers have turned to Alex Lyon. Since Bobrovsky became ill, Lyon has gone 6-1-1, helping lead the Panthers back to the playoffs.
Lyon has never appeared in the playoffs at the NHL level.
Prediction
The team that gets to four wins fi….
I think the Panthers are going to make this a difficult series on the Bruins. As good as the Bruins are in their own end, Florida can score and they’re going to do that well in the series. If Bergeron and Krejci are able to play and play without limitations, the Bruins should be fine.
I’ll go Bruins in 6 and throw in two OT games because everyone loves playoff OT.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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