There is one ticket left for the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Florida Panthers are trying to stamp theirs on Friday for a date with the New York Rangers.
The puck drops at 7:00 pm EST in Boston.
While the Panthers are looking to finish the series, the Bruins are looking for history to repeat itself in reverse. Last year, the Bruins had a 3-1 lead against Florida in the first round, and the Panthers were the ones to claw back, force a Game 7, and ultimately clinch the series. After a stellar Game 6, the Bruins are halfway there.
With or Without Marchand, Swayman Gives Bruins a Chance
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about gamesmanship. Coaches are not quick to give any information that would give opponents the slightest edge.
However, Brad Marchand spoke to the media yesterday after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury. It’s hard to believe he would be allowed to speak if he wasn’t going to play, but no update has been made.
On a team that already struggles with depth, there is no doubt a return by their captain would be a huge boost to Boston in Game 6. Even with missing two games, he is tied for the team lead in points with 10, including two powerplay goals.
Marchand is the literal and emotional leader of this Bruins team. We’ll find out his status throughout the day.
Regardless, the show must go on. Even if he does return, the Bruins are in the hands of Jeremy Swayman.
After a shaky defensive performance in games two and three, Swayman has returned to his normal self, allowing four goals on 70 shots in the last two games.
Swayman is the reason why the Bruins won Round 1, and if they find a way in the next couple days, he will be the reason why they win Round 2. The Panthers are bigger, faster, and stronger, but Game 5 showed that if they play the right way, and give Swayman a chance, it is absolutely fathomable that we will be breaking down a Game 7 on Saturday morning.
Back to the Basics for the Florida Panthers
Florida has won their last five games at TD Garden in Boston and are looking to make a sixth and move on to their second straight Conference Final.
In games two through four, the Panthers held the Bruins to 18 shots or less and won three straight in the process. In Game 5, their passes were less crisp, and breaking out of their own end was a struggle at times. The strength of this Panthers team is their physicality and their forecheck, and they’ll need more of both to get the job done on Friday.
Barkov and Tkachuk are the leaders on this team, and they’ve been playing like it. Both players have 13 points and will be counted on to add to that total in Game 5.
As good as those two players have been, it’s the depth across the board for the Panthers that makes them believe they can get the job done.
Only two forwards average more than twenty minutes a game in these playoffs, and only five players have not put the puck in the net. 15 players have played all 10 games, and only three of those players haven’t scored, with two of them being defensemen.
In addition, Florida had the second-best road record(26-11-4) in the NHL this year. Add that to list of reasons they believe will be going to New York City next week.
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