For the third straight series (and in as many tries), Jim Montgomery will have the chance to put his Bruins team in position to take a 2-0 series lead on their playoff opponent.
But for the Bruins to actually come through with a 2-0 series lead for the first time since their 2019 playoff series against the Hurricanes, it starts with both improving their own play and anticipating what will be a strong push back from the Panthers in their own barn.
“Well, we got to be better with our execution and then we got to be physical,” Montgomery said following the morning skate at Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena. “We got to start on time. Like we’re worried about ourselves. We know they’re going to be better.”
For the Bruins, everything is the same with the exception of one move up front, with Jesper Boqvist expected to slot back into the mix on Boston’s fourth line in place of Patrick Brown.
Here are five thoughts as we wait for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop…
Offense from the blue
May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Panthers during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)
If there was one thing that stuck out about Game 1 between these teams, it was just how much space the Bruins had to operate in the Florida end. Perhaps that was just a natural shock to the system given the way that the Maple Leafs clogged things up in the middle over the final three games of their first-round series with the Bruins, but boy oh boy was that area wiiiiiide open like the four-lane roads they have here.
Of course, the odds of the Panthers tightening up on that front for Game 2 have to comfortably rest somewhere between 97 to 100 percent. Especially with Paul Maurice behind the Florida bench.
But if the Bruins can continue to force the issue and open up their defensemen as viable shooting threats — the B’s have three goals from their backend over the last two games — that’ll only cause more headaches for any opponent in their way this postseason.
“It’s huge,” B’s forward Morgan Geekie said of the Bruins getting goals from the defense in the playoffs. “I think we have a lot of guys on the backend that can make plays and get pucks up quick and get out of our zone, but I don’t know if they get enough credit for how well they can [play] offensively.
“I think you see that it’s just important, especially when teams are so good and they’re kind of evening each other out. You have to find different ways to score. And when you can do that up and down the line up and especially from the back end, it definitely helps out for sure.”
Through eight games, the B’s blue line has combined for four goals, which is tied for the second-most among all playoff teams, trailing only Colorado (six goals from defensemen).
Still no Bennett for Cats
SUNRISE, FL – MAY 11: Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers prepares for a face-off against the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 11, 2022. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
At one point considered a potential option for the club, the Panthers will continue to play without top-six wrecking ball Sam Bennett. And the importance of the Bruins capitalizing on a Bennett-less Florida roster is just absolutely huge — gigantic, even — for the Bruins.
After recording five goals and 15 points in 20 playoff games for the Panthers a year ago, Bennett picked up on where he left off last year this postseason, with a goal and assist through two games. But Bennett’s Game 2 also came with a huge blow to him and the rest of the Panther attack, as he took a Brandon Montour shot off the hand and had to depart the game (and the rest of the series).
If we go back to last year’s first-round series between the B’s and Panthers, it really was the return of Bennett that seemed to flip this series back towards equal footing, and Bennett played a major role in the Panthers’ success against Boston. Not only did the return of Bennett help balance out Florida’s forward grouping, especially down the middle, but Bennett did some serious damage in his six games against Boston, with three goals and five points. Bennett also racked up 25 hits in that series.
Panicking or breathing a sigh of relief over the absence of a 20-goal, 41-point player may seem a bit hyperbolic to some, but it’s the way Bennett plays that is just pure disruption.
Whenever you watch Bennett in the playoffs, this is a guy who plays with a take no prisoners mentality, and is an absolute bull in the attacking zone. And when he’s in action, the Panthers are typically able to balance their offense with Matt Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov on different lines, which only causes more issues for a club.
Doing as much damage as you can with Bennett unavailable is paramount for this B’s club.
Here’s Chucky
SUNRISE, FL – MAY 6: Niko Mikkola #77 of the Florida Panthers defends against Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins during first period action in Game One of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena on May 6, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Speaking of the ripple effect of a Bennett-less Panthers roster, I asked Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery what went into the decision to go with a Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy pairing against the Verhaeghe-Barkov-Tkachuk line in Game 1, and Montgomery kept it short and sweet.
“Best against best.”
And overall, it wasn’t a battle that the Bruins lost outright in my opinion. Sure, Florida’s only goal of the night came off a McAvoy turnover that ended with Barkov feeding Tkachuk, but the Panthers only landed three shots on goal in about eight minutes of action with their top line against McAvoy. On a night where the Bruins got shelled for 39 shots (31 of which came at five-on-five), having only three of them come with the top line against McAvoy feels like a win in a way.
As for McAvoy himself, this has been a postseason where you can’t help but feel as if he can give you even more and truly take over as the best defenseman on either team in this series.
“I think often times [in] the playoffs, it’s a war of attrition and it’s about who’s doing the most to recover the best to try and find as close as they can to 100 percent,” McAvoy said the morning after Game 1. “I mean, I think that’s the biggest attribute I can have in the playoffs: Whatever I can do to help is what I’m trying to do. Whatever match up it. If It’s offensive, it’s offensive, if it’s defense it’s defense.
“Mentally, emotionally, on the bench. You know, it’s a lot of different aspects, but whatever I can do to help team is all I’m worried about.”
Through eight games, McAvoy has put up four assists (three of which have come on the man advantage), and is averaging the fourth-most time on ice per game, at 26:33 per night. McAvoy has also been able to land 14 shots on goal (12th-most among all playoff defensemen), and knows that his nightly ask is a whole lot of hockey and across all 200 feet of the rink.
“[I’m] being asked to do a lot of things and I thrive on that,” McAvoy said. “I love that. I feel like these are the opportunities where you just do whatever you can do help the team and that’s all that matters.”
Faceoffs remain a concern
May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) and Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) face-off during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)
One thing that Montgomery and the Bruins want to see improve in Game 2: Faceoffs.
That’s really been the theme of the postseason for the Bruins, and Game 1 brought about more struggles at the dot, with losses in 44 of the team’s 75 total faceoffs in the game. The struggles were especially glaring in the attacking zone, as the Bruins lost all but seven of their 21 offensive-zone draws.
“I think we got to tie up more sticks you know, and win it is a five man unit,” Montgomery said. “Everybody’s gotta help on the lines and dive in. We got a little more faceoff intensity.”
The Bruins are currently the worst team at the dot this postseason, with a 43.4 percent success rate.
More nastiness on deck?
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 15: Pat Maroon #61 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena on April 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Based on how this game ended, you can expect a downright nasty, fistfight of a contest between these teams tonight.
You saw it percolating at the end of Game 1, complete with Niko Mikkola going for a full-length hit from behind on Brandon Carlo, where he was promptly chased off the ice by the Bruins’ James van Riemsdyk before an on-ice official seemingly guided Mikkola off the ice and down the tunnel.
The rust of the Panthers’ week-long break should be off their blades, too, and with the team down in the series, they’ll likely turn to what’s been their best attribute all year long: Their tenacity.
But these Bruins seem better built for that with both their roster construct and their finish at a more intense Toronto squad, and there’s no denying the impact that the big-bodied Pat Maroon brings to the ice.
Pat Maroon staring at the Florida Bench: “Bunch of F****** P******” 😂😂😂😂@NHLBruins #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruinsvspanthers pic.twitter.com/bRubREEtAa
— Boo Denson (@DrewB603) May 7, 2024Talking to some of Maroon’s teammates and linemates, they outright admitted that his presence makes everybody feel more confident on the ice, and that his toughness and willingness to be the first one in when anybody tries to start some nonsense is something that keeps them engaged.
Boston Bruin Pat Maroon rocks I love this mf pic.twitter.com/0GIkPXlO0b
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) May 7, 2024
