It took overtime in game 7, but the Boston Bruins dispatched the Toronto Maple Leafs again in NHL playoff action. The Prize: A rematch with the Florida Panthers. I don’t need to remind anyone what happened last season.
Game 1 will take place Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida. The Panthers are favored to win again but it appears the Bruins like the underdog role.
The initial decision to be made is which goalie starts the game. Jeremy Swayman is fresh from one of the most impressive performances in goal during a single round. Fans were eager for him to play in every match against the Leafs due to his dominant season against them. Linus Ullmark has also been outstanding against the Panthers this season, boasting a 3-0-0 record with a .947 save percentage. In his sole start, Swayman made 18 saves out of 21 shots with an .857 save percentage.
The Bruins are recovering from injuries, leading to forthcoming decisions. Derek Forbort could have been available for game 7 against Toronto if required, despite expectations of being out for the season. Andrew Peeke is nearing return after being considered week-to-week. These two robust defenders are expected to join the series against Florida’s aggressive forecheck at some point. The status of Danton Heinen remains unknown, but his defensive skills would be valuable against Florida.
Justin Brazeau is in good health and shaking off some rust since returning to the lineup against Toronto in game 5. James van Riemsdyk seems to have fully recovered after the illness that led to a 15-pound weight loss. Additionally, Patrick Maroon is gaining confidence with each game in the Bruins system. These three players are key for the Bruins to create chaos in front of the Panthers’ net.
The Bruins must rely on Pavel Zacha for increased offensive contributions after leading the team offensively versus the Panthers during the regular season. While David Pastrnak scored the series-clinching goal against Toronto, they still require more from him. These two players are interdependent.
Brad Marchand needs to replicate his performance from the initial four games against Toronto. Jake DeBrusk must maintain his current level of play, while Charlie Coyle needs to contribute on offence. If the Bruins are going to go anywhere in this series, this is a must.
Trent Frederic has raised his game to another level. What we saw from him in the second half of the series against Toronto is the Frederic needed against Florida.
Assuming no injuries, it seems unlikely that Matt Grzelcyk will participate in this series. Brandon Carlo displayed some unsteady moments, but he emerged as the Bruins’ top defenseman against the Leafs throughout the series. Although he must maintain this performance, it cannot be the standard moving forward. Charlie McAvoy must elevate his play, some of his errors proved to be costly mistakes for the Bruins. Despite facing criticism, Hampus Lindholm is handling challenging minutes well and delivered a standout performance in game 7, his best showing against Toronto. The Bruins need that Lindholm against Florida.
Mason Lohrei has shown significant improvement since his somewhat shaky first game in the Toronto series. I wanted no part of trading for Noah Hanifin at the deadline because of Lohrei, but he has exceeded even my expectations. Parker Wotherspoon has been consistent, albeit unremarkable, as the sixth defenseman, exactly what you want. Kevin Shattenkirk’s leadership and experience, particularly his speech in game 7, have been invaluable in keeping the team composed. However, with Forbort and Peeke returning soon, tough decisions lie ahead.
The Panthers can be beat. But a lot has to go right for the Bruins and some adjustments need to be made.
Follow me on X @dominictiano.
