Phil Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 (1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers Mon., April 17: Panthers at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Wed., April 19: Panthers at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Fri., April 21: Bruins at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Sun., April 23: Bruins at Panthers, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT, SN1, TVAS Wed., April 26: Panthers at Bruins, TBA Fri., April 28: Bruins at Panthers, TBA Sun., April 30: Panthers at Bruins, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points SEASON SERIES: BOS 2-1-1; FLA 2-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Bruins: David Pastrnak scored an NHL career-high 61 goals in 82 games this season, well outpacing his previous NHL career high of 48 he had in 70 games in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. It seemed like Pastrnak, normally a streaky scorer, didn't have an off period in all of 2022-23. He managed his 58th, 59th, and 60th goals in a hat trick April 9, when the Bruins broke the regular-season wins record. He finished the season with the second-most goals in the NHL, to Connor McDavid's 64. Panthers: Tkachuk helped drag the Panthers into the playoffs and in the process became a candidate for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the NHL. The forward finished the regular season with 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 games, tied with Jason Robertson for sixth in the NHL. It was a second straight NHL career high in points for a player who has become an offensive dynamo in addition to a tough, gritty opponent. If anyone can will this series their way, it's Tkachuk. GOALTENDING: Bruins: They have the best duo in hockey, with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman combining to win the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded annually to the goalies who play at least 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals in the NHL (174). They are led by Ullmark, the favorite for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie, who finished the season leading in most goalie categories, going 40-6-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 49 games (48 starts). Swayman finished with a 24-6-4 record, a 2.27 GAA and a .920 save percentage. They lack experience -- Ullmark has two postseason starts, Swayman five -- but they have been dominant this season. Panthers: In a surprising twist, Alex Lyon has been the goalie down the stretch for the Panthers, the one that got them into the playoffs while Sergei Bobrovsky was sidelined with an illness and while Spencer Knight has been in the NHL/NHLPA employee assistance program since Feb. 24. Lyon made the final eight starts of the season, going 6-1-1 with a 1.88 GAA and .943 save percentage. Bobrovsky should be an option in the playoffs if Lyon falters; he was 24-20-3 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 save percentage in 50 games (49 starts) this season. X FACTORS: Bruins: Taylor Hall. Not every team can have a Hart Trophy winner on their third line, but that's how deep the Bruins are. Hall, who won the Hart in 2017-18, is back in the lineup after being out with a lower-body injury from Feb. 25 to April 8, a span of 20 games. In 61 games this season, he has 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists). He's found a home on a line with Charlie Coyle and Tyler Bertuzzi. It's the kind of line that could be a monster of a matchup problem for opponents, with Hall left cleaning up. Panthers: Brandon Montour. The defenseman has had a breakout season at age 29 for the Panthers, scoring 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games after a previous career high of 37 points last season. He has five game-winning goals this season, behind only Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers. He's become a force this season, and if he can sneak in with some scoring, it will go a long way in keeping Florida in this series. WILL WIN IF: Bruins: They do exactly what they've done all regular season. They have earned a spot in the conversation as the best team in regular-season history. But, as has been the case in the past, that doesn't necessarily mean anything in the playoffs. The Bruins need to be confident but not overconfident, and simply need to play the way they have been . Panthers: If the goaltending holds. The Panthers have gotten a surprising boost from Lyon, but he has never played in the playoffs and doesn't have a lot of experience overall. He's a journeyman, but any goalie can get hot, and if he does the Panthers have a shot. They need to be able to rely on either him or Bobrovsky, who comes in with 51 games of playoff experience (46 starts) and a bit more of a resume. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-playoffs-boston-vs-florida-1st-round-preview/c-343589972?tid=343199104 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted April 16, 2023 Author Share Posted April 16, 2023 Break out the broom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Bruins going wire to wire this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 (edited) Even though I picked B’s in 4, they need to be careful. They are facing a team that won the President’s Trophy last year with a high octane offense, mixed with experiencing a crushing second round sweep to the Lightning. There’s room for a surprise similar to Lightning/Jackets from 4 years ago. Edited April 17, 2023 by BrooksBurner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 9 minutes ago, BrooksBurner said: Even though I picked B’s in 4, they need to be careful. They are facing a team that won the President’s Trophy last year with a high octane offense, mixed with experiencing a crushing second round sweep to the Lightning. There’s room for a surprise similar to Lightning/Jackets from 4 years ago. We just need the Panthers to take a bite out of these guys. That Panthers team is kinda different from last year, but I can see where they might jump up and take a couple of games. I hope they just make this series go a while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Think the Panthers get a W in game 3 and that's about it. This should be very one-sided. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 Apparently Bergeron is questionable for game 1. Flu going through the locker room. They're still going to crush Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 No Bergeron tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Not a huge surprise last night. Alex Lyon, basically a journeyman goaltender, has been really good for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 The ghost of Eric Staal scored a goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodrigueGabriel Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Panthers getting a little frisky up 2-1 in game 2, period 2. A guy can dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 4-2 cats with 13 min left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodrigueGabriel Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 (edited) Bruins coming apart! 5-2 Kittens. Edited April 20, 2023 by RodrigueGabriel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash or Czech Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Not watching tonight but are there some holes in this Bruins armor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Boston losing is a wonderful thing 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 25 minutes ago, Cash or Czech said: Not watching tonight but are there some holes in this Bruins armor Bruins had some bad turnovers in their defensive zone and Ullmark was mortal. Lots of fights once the game was out of reach so bad blood heading into game 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valriera Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 Imagine giving birth to both the tkachuck boys? Brady and Matthew are just animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 As is tradition, they will be rumored to be Rangers starting when they're 35 like their father was every free agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sod16 Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 I'm wondering if the B's 35 and older crowd is going to hold up through 4 tough playoff series. Bergeron's injury a sneak preview? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 This game is great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 I hope the Rangers are taking notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Had it on in the background and just noticed B's tied it. Look at the fucking SOG... FLA's been leading the game on 3 goals and they only have 18 shots. Boston has 41 SOG and tied it 7 minutes ago (game time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 LGP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Absolutely awesome game!!! Everyone wins in this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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