In the playoffs, they say, you’re not in trouble until you lose on home ice, and after getting a split in Sunrise, the Boston Bruins look to take advantage of some home cooking. The puck drops at 7:00 pm EST Friday night.
Heading into this series, the Panthers were the clear favorites over the Bruins. So far, each team has had its blunders and victories, and the ice is as even as it gets heading into Game 3.
In Game 1, Swayman was a brick wall, Bobrovsky couldn’t buy a save, and the Bruins ran away with a 5-1 win. In Game 2, the Panthers held Boston to only 15 shots, Swayman was pulled in the third, and, this time, Florida ran away with a 6-1 win.
After six periods, there have been 13 goals and 190 penalty minutes. All bets are off on what we can expect tonight.
Bruins Shows Familiar Colours in Game 2
Throughout the playoffs, Boston has had an issue with starting on time. In Game 2, that was no different, and it ended up blending into the rest of the game. They had only 12 shots through 40 minutes and 3 shots in the final frame.
While the Bruins have been opportunistic in key moments in both rounds, Jeremy Swayman is the biggest reason why the are where they are, 1-1 in the second round of the playoffs.
Swayman was pulled after giving up four goals on 23 shots in Game 2. In a game where the Bruins had nothing going on, it was the right move to give Swayman a period of rest, and it’s the right move to go back to him tonight. Wednesday night was the only game in the playoffs where he allowed more than two goals. You have to think he’ll be back to true form tonight.
Bad Blood Carrying Over in Game 3
In the midst of the avalanche of game misconducts the other night, superstar David Pastrnak willingly dropped the gloves with Matthew Tkachuk. When you see a game-changer putting his body on the line, that does nothing to galvanize the group, and it’ll be interesting to watch what impact that has on the Bruins moving forward.
From the Panthers’ side of the ice, Game 2 was exactly what the team needed. After being off for almost a week before this series, you could tell their timing and playmaking were off, especially in the net.
In a blowout game, the Bruins did what you see a lot in the playoffs. Being down big, they drug the Panthers into the fight, making sure they knew the Bruins weren’t going away quietly. The problem with that is the Panthers don’t get dragged into fights. They go willingly. Heading into Game 4, they are right in their element, and if they get the big saves from Bobrovsky, they very well could be heading back to Florida next week with a chance to move on.
What to Expect in Game 3
Wednesday night, we saw big games from Reinhart and Barkov, but Tkachuk and Verhaeghe have been statistically quiet thus far. Look for them to have statement games on Friday.
Status on Sam Bennett is still unknown, but is considered day-to-day. The physicality and aggression of the Panthers is personified in Bennett, and whenever he comes back you can bet that will be a huge boost for the division champs.
Bottom line, as always, is the goaltending. The Bruins are not getting a lot of high quality chances, and the Panthers are. Bobrovsky just needs to be steady, but Swayman, yet again, needs the game of his life.
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