Round 2 Bruins-Panthers

[The Napkin]

Game 1: Monday, Bruins at Panthers, 8:00, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, Bruins at Panthers, 7:30, ESPN
Game 3: Friday, Panthers at Bruins, 7:00, TNT, truTV
Game 4: May 12, Panthers at Bruins, 12:00, TBS, truTV
x-Game 5: May 14, Bruins at Panthers, TBD
x-Game 6: May 17, Panthers at Bruins, TBD
x-Game 7: May 19, Bruins at Panthers, TBD

Complete Bruins-Panthers series coverage

 

[Cotillion]

Throw the Cat off the cliff!!! - Jack Edwards

 

[ArmyBoSoxFan]

Every other night for the first 5. Think Monty rides Swayman or goes back to a rotation?

 

[IdiotKicker]

Every other night for the first 5. Think Monty rides Swayman or goes back to a rotation?

I would be scared shitless to tell Sway he doesn’t have the net for a game. If he weren’t literally the best player in the first round of the playoffs for any team, I’d go back to rotating, but given the fact that he’s basically playing like 2011 Thomas, I don’t know how you go away from him now. If you do, it has to be in game 1 just to get him 3 days in a row off and then you ride him again.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Every other night B's/C's, starting Monday, through next weekend. Life is good

 

[wiffleballhero]

I really hate the Florida Panthers. I find it insulting and ridiculous that they even exist and I will forever be enraged by the ludicrous hand pass call, the OT save off the shaft of the stick and a thousand other things that destroyed last season. But last season is over.

Rip their goddamn throats out.

 

[RG33]

I think this is going to be an incredibly difficult series for the Bruins. We don’t match up well against the Panthers and the Panthers have a lot of firepower. Sway is going to have to steal two games at least for this to be a competitive series in my opinion. I hope I am violently wrong.

 

[Murby]

I’d be okay playing Ully in game one. He’s not played a long time & it’d be good to get him in, but I’d be surprised if they do that.

Florida has been able to sit & heal, that doesn’t help our chances either. I don’t expect them to win this series, but hockey is weird. Never know.

 

[Salem's Lot]

I could see Ullmark in game 1 after a tough series.

 

[IdiotKicker]

I think this is going to be an incredibly difficult series for the Bruins. We don’t match up well against the Panthers and the Panthers have a lot of firepower. Sway is going to have to steal two games at least for this to be a competitive series in my opinion. I hope I am violently wrong.

I think you are violently wrong. The Bruins now have the hottest goalie in the playoffs, will have absolutely no pressure on them now that they’re past the possibility of blowing back to back first round 3-1 leads, and have not lost the the Panthers all season. Yes, I know regular season vs postseason, but it is what it is.

They have far less offensive talent than the Panthers. But it’s the playoffs and the best offensive team does not win the Cup every year. I’m not saying the Bruins should be favorites, but I do think they have a better chance than you’re giving them credit for here.

 

[wiffleballhero]

have not lost the the Panthers all season

Right.

The Bruins are 4-0 vs. Florida this year during the regular season.

It is true, the regular season does not mean much, especially October and November wins and two OT games. But they also don't suggest that Florida represents some sort of inscrutable match-up problem.

I'm just glad we don't have to watch Radko Gudas assault people for 7 games while the stripes look away.

The worry I have is simply that the Bruins are going to face "Playoffs Florida" where they will confront that same forecheck sellout from Florida that really broke the Bruins down last year as they couldn't get out of their own zone as the series went on. And it is not like they had an easy time of it even against Toronto.

 

[lexrageorge]

Since we enjoy parallels to the past, I'll add one. The 2010 Bruins were reverse swept by the Flyers, due in part to some untimely injuries. The 2011 Bruins started their playoff run with a seventh game against nemesis Montreal. Nathan Horton's OT goal temporarily ended the rising "Fire Clode" talk, which set them up with a 2nd round rematch against the Flyers.

 

[IdiotKicker]

The worry I have is simply that the Bruins are going to face "Playoffs Florida" where they will confront that same forecheck sellout from Florida that really broke the Bruins down last year as they couldn't get out of their own zone as the series went on. And it is not like they had an easy time of it even against Toronto.

Yeah this is going to be the challenge. It’s also why I think if they do win, they likely get smoked by Carolina, who I think will make relatively quick work of the Rangers.

 

[astrozombie]

I'm just glad we don't have to watch Radko Gudas assault people for 7 games while the stripes look away.

I know it's not the reason they lost, but Gudas being able to ply his trade consequence-free last year was just immensely disappointing to me. It reminded me a lot of pre-2004 when a bunch of no name defenseman could muck up and equalize far superior offensive players with all that nonsense.

 

[Haunted]

So now that nesn is out, what’s the best streaming platform to watch? Fubo? YouTube tv?

 

[TSC]

Can we talk about Lohrei?

Granted, he’s playing with McAvoy - but he’s looked like the Bruins best defender as the series goes on. He was a legit weapon last night and the only Bruin who looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.

He’s still about 20lbs of muscle too skinny. He still needs to be a little more aware of his spacing in the D zone. But the kid seems to step his game up when the pressure is on.

View: https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1786960148323270941?s=46

 

[IdiotKicker]

Can we talk about Lohrei?

Granted, he’s playing with McAvoy - but he’s looked like the Bruins best defender as the series goes on. He was a legit weapon last night and the only Bruin who looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.

He’s still about 20lbs of muscle too skinny. He still needs to be a little more aware of his spacing in the D zone. But the kid seems to step his game up when the pressure is on.

View: https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1786960148323270941?s=46

He was great offensively last night. As you noted, he’s not very aware of what is going on in his own end and tends to get caught out of position quite a bit, but until Lindholm turned into his old self for a bit, I thought he was easily one of our two best defensemen.

He does have this strange habit with the puck where it’s like his arms and legs are moving in different directions and it’s unclear if even he knows where he’s going to go, but I think it’s probably just how he skates and it looks weird more than anything else. And his hands and feet look too big for his body. So he’s basically a golden retriever puppy on skates, but it’s been working more than it hasn’t.

 

[Norm Siebern]

I really hate the Florida Panthers. I find it insulting and ridiculous that they even exist and I will forever be enraged by the ludicrous hand pass call, the OT save off the shaft of the stick and a thousand other things that destroyed last season. But last season is over.

Rip their goddamn throats out.

I could have written this myself, word for word. Could not agree more, with every point. Exact revenge. Rip their fucking throats out.

 

[NYCSox]

I think you are violently wrong. The Bruins now have the hottest goalie in the playoffs, will have absolutely no pressure on them now that they’re past the possibility of blowing back to back first round 3-1 leads, and have not lost the the Panthers all season. Yes, I know regular season vs postseason, but it is what it is.

They have far less offensive talent than the Panthers. But it’s the playoffs and the best offensive team does not win the Cup every year. I’m not saying the Bruins should be favorites, but I do think they have a better chance than you’re giving them credit for here.

The no pressure thing is key. Going forward they will not be expected to win any remaining series so it will be interesting to see if that loosens them up.

 

[TSC]

The no pressure thing is key. Going forward they will not be expected to win any remaining series so it will be interesting to see if that loosens them up.

Considering the losses from last offseason, and the expectations going into this season - the Bruins are now playing with house money.

No one is really expecting them to beat the Panthers - and after winning the first round, and the development of some of the kids, this season can be considered a pretty big success.

It’ll be interesting to see them playing without the weight of expectation. They haven’t really had that opportunity since about mid-way through last season.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Considering the losses from last offseason, and the expectations going into this season - the Bruins are now playing with house money.

No one is really expecting them to beat the Panthers - and after winning the first round, and the development of some of the kids, this season can be considered a pretty big success.

It’ll be interesting to see them playing without the weight of expectation. They haven’t really had that opportunity since about mid-way through last season.

If Swayman continues to channel 2011 Tim Thomas, there's no team the Bruins can't beat. It now starts to get very interesting.

 

[mwonow]

As I heard Grapes say once on TV, "they should never put a team any place where they call hockey "'ice hockey.'"

"Ice" hockey in May, in Florida? GTFO. Time to toss these cats off whatever high points actually exist in a state that's only about 6' over sea level.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Considering the losses from last offseason, and the expectations going into this season - the Bruins are now playing with house money.

No one is really expecting them to beat the Panthers - and after winning the first round, and the development of some of the kids, this season can be considered a pretty big success.

It’ll be interesting to see them playing without the weight of expectation. They haven’t really had that opportunity since about mid-way through last season.

Agreed with all of this. The pressure of having had the best regular season in history seemed to weigh on them in the playoffs last year. Right now, they are expected to lose to Florida. It might help these guys in not gripping their sticks so tightly.

Bobrovsky is on fire right now. Fortunately, so is Sway.

 

[Cotillion]

I'm kind of happy. I think this gets to the Bruins... everyone is saying "Bruins are going to get smoked by Florida"... like I get Florida might be better, but I don't get where this "the bruins have no chance" "sweep" "they're going to get crushed" crushed comes from.... I mean they played them a couple times this year, and they were all pretty competitive games if I recall.

Like I don't expect the Bruins to dominate or anything, but I expect this to be a hard fought series that goes 6 or 7...

but man... I hope the Bruins lockerroom is seeing all of this media going "no one stands a chance against florida"

 

[RedOctober3829]

View: https://twitter.com/conorryan_93/status/1787156416316244266?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q

 

[IdiotKicker]

I never thought I’d say it but I’m really looking forward to Peeke being back. Dude was steady and good clearing the zone.

 

[RIFan]

Can we talk about Lohrei?

Granted, he’s playing with McAvoy - but he’s looked like the Bruins best defender as the series goes on. He was a legit weapon last night and the only Bruin who looked dangerous with the puck on his stick.

He’s still about 20lbs of muscle too skinny. He still needs to be a little more aware of his spacing in the D zone. But the kid seems to step his game up when the pressure is on.

View: https://twitter.com/hockeystatcards/status/1786960148323270941?s=46

Eye test matches the card. Looked like a different player on D. Took good angles on D and was not hesitant. During the season he seemed to try to take away the puck with his stick. He probably got away with that in juniors and college. Last night he was getting into the puck carrier with the body and separating them from the puck. He wasn’t flustered by the moment in the least. The sky is the limit for him if he plays like that.

I have been ragging on Lindholm all season. He has ranged from mediocre to bad, especially considering his talent level. I was at the game and my son was at his home. Lindholm gave away a puck and he texted me to rage a little. My response was he’s shooting the puck. Different guy than all season right now. If Lindholm plays like this, Pasta plays like he did in the 3rd and OT, and McAvoy settles down a little and just plays his game anything is possible. (At this point I think goaltending is a given, not an “if”.)

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

As I heard Grapes say once on TV, "they should never put a team any place where they call hockey "'ice hockey.'"

"Ice" hockey in May, in Florida? GTFO. Time to toss these cats off whatever high points actually exist in a state that's only about 6' over sea level.

Yup. Panthers should be playing shuffleboard or Canasta

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[Myt1]

I never thought I’d say it but I’m really looking forward to Peeke being back. Dude was steady and good clearing the zone.

I think the lesson is, “Who the fuck knows what Columbus is doing?”

 

[Silverdude2167]

View attachment 82122

I mean I understand the Panthers are probably better but the Bruins are 4-0 against them this year.

How no one thinks it might go 7 is insane. I think people might have overrated the Lighting and are letting that drive their opinion if the Panthers.

 

[joe dokes]

I never thought I’d say it but I’m really looking forward to Peeke being back. Dude was steady and good clearing the zone.

True. Though I thought Wotherspoon held up pretty well against Toronto. He seemed to make a high number of small-but-extremely competent plays.

Seems like its been awhile since the Bruins had good players *coming back* for a playoff series.

 

[wiffleballhero]

I mean I understand the Panthers are probably better but the Bruins are 4-0 against them this year.

How no one thinks it might go 7 is insane. I think people might have overrated the Lighting and are letting that drive their opinion if the Panthers.

I also think there is an understandable tendency to forget how repeatedly, inexplicably lucky Florida had to be for all the stars to align for them to win the series last year. If that series were to be replayed 100 times starting from the Bruins being up 3-1 I don't think Florida wins it more than a few times. If Ullmark and Bergeron had been 100% I'm not sure they win it once. And if Marchand's last second shot on Bobrovsky had been an inch higher we'd barely even remember that the Bruins had them as their nearly walk over first round match-up.

 

[IdiotKicker]

True. Though I thought Wotherspoon held up pretty well against Toronto. He seemed to make a high number of small-but-extremely competent plays.

Seems like its been awhile since the Bruins had good players *coming back* for a playoff series.

Yeah Wotherspoon has been really good, given his role and demands. The Bs seem to be really good at finding undervalued 3rd pair guys who can borderline play up a bit when needed. It makes it all the more frustrating when they give a guy like Forbort the contract they did, because they seem to have an eye for these guys.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[NYCSox]

Levy probably wants Bruins to win to make things easier for his Rags.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I'm fine with no one picking the Bruins. This is the first series in a while they aren't expected to win. Go out and play loose and free and see what happens.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I'm fine with no one picking the Bruins. This is the first series in a while they aren't expected to win. Go out and play loose and free and see what happens.

I think it'll actually be good for them

 

[Murby]

Bruins recall Patrick Brown on an emergency basis. Prepping reinforcements already or someone is out?

https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-recall-patrick-brown-on-emergency-basis

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Do they stick with Sway, or give him a rest and let Ully back in there?

 

[IdiotKicker]

Edit: gone.

 

[Jordu]

Just read a piece in which the editors at The Athletic polled their NHL writers on the second round. Not one predicted a Bruins series win. Also see @RedOctober3829 post above.

I understand the Bruins were mediocre in the last stretch of the regular season and the Panthers were hot in the stretch.

This unanimity of predictions says more about pack journalism than it does about hockey.

 

[astrozombie]

I feel like the Bruins are finally on the other side of the "screaming hot goalie, just enough secondary scoring" situation that they ran into in 2019. No idea how it will turn out, but I remember being infuriated that they could not get anything past Binnington who, right after that Cup run, fell to earth. Though speaking of that screaming hot goalie, I do hope they start Ullmark in game 1. Give Sway a break and get Ullmark a lower-stakes situation to get some confidence back.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

I would start Ullmark. Which means it will be Sway.

 

[Erik Hanson's Hook]

I am a casual Bruins fan, and I find myself wanting Florida blood. After last year especially.

Let's fucking go.

 

[The Mort Report]

So Pat McAfee is hit or miss for me, it can get a little V&N-y, but I love how hard he pushes hockey with his Hockey is Awesome segment and I think he asks some really interesting questions in interviews. He interviewed Sway on his show today and I thought it was a fun listen, really comes across as grounded

 

[reggiecleveland]

That's the hockey equivalent of shooting the lights out. The second and third goals went into such tiny openings. Great start!

 

[TSC]

This quote from Monty tells me we'll likely being Swayman till he falters.

View: https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1787699034083201073

 

[Yo La Tengo]

With Swayman playing well, I am more optimistic about the Bs chances. Not clear if Heinen will be back for Game 1 but I thought Brazeau and Lohrei both earned some more time on the ice.

Check and check.

Still hoping Heinen gets back for Game 2. He seems to do the right thing every time he's on the ice.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Check and check.

Still hoping Heinen gets back for Game 2. He seems to do the right thing every time he's on the ice.

After last night, I’m not sure who he replaces, even though I do like him as a generally steadying presence. He’s not a C so it’s not Brown. JVR had an assist. Beecher wasn’t great but with the faceoff issues it’s nice to have him around since he was at 50% yesterday.