Boston Bruins – Florida Panthers | Time for revenge?

The Bruins have things to make up for. They led their series against the Panthers by three games to one last year, and had flouted their opponents in Game 4, before seeing Florida close the gap and advance to the second round. Boston had just had a historic year with 135 points and the Panthers had reached the playoffs through the back door after a lackluster season.

The roles are slightly reversed this season. At least the Panthers have overtaken the Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. By a tiny point, it should be noted, but they won four more matches, and six in regulation time.

The Bruins needed overtime in Game 7 to eliminate the Maple Leafs. The Panthers dismissed the Lightning in just five games, but the games were hotly contested overall.

Boston did not have the advantage at five on five in the previous series, Toronto scored 11 goals and allowed 10 in similar circumstances, but the Bruins were effective on the power play (success rate of 35.3% ) and inferior to one player (rate of 95.2%). The Panthers, on the contrary, have the best advanced statistics at five on five since the start of the playoffs.

Florida is missing its sophomore center, Sam Bennett, and Anton Lundell is promoted up one spot to center, but the Panthers have done well without him. Their defense is balanced and they have the luxury of counting on Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov on a third pair.

Players to watch

Boston

Brad Marchand was the team’s top scorer in the first round with eight points in seven games. We expect more from David Pastrnak, limited to five points, including only one in the last three games.

Florida

Sergei Bobrovsky didn’t even start last year’s series against Boston. He regained his confidence afterwards and here he is a year later at the top of his game, even if he did not present great statistics against the Lightning.

Players under the radar

Boston

To everyone’s surprise, Morgan Geekie, hired last summer for two years at an annual salary of two million, plays in the first trio, between Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. He had 28 points the previous season in Seattle and 22 two years ago.

Florida

A modest support defenseman since the start of his career, Niko Mikkola, a 6’5″ giant, played on average more than 20 minutes per game in the second pairing during the first round.