Sport 1 takeaways: Stellar Swayman leads Bruins to 5-1 win vs. Panthers initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Boston
The Boston Bruins‘ success on the highway within the Stanley Cup Playoffs continued in Sport 1 of their second-round sequence versus the Florida Panthers on Monday evening.
Simply 48 hours after eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs in extra time of Sport 7, the Bruins went right down to Dawn, Fla., and defeated the Panthers 5-1 at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment.
After a scoreless, however very entertaining first interval, the Panthers acquired on the board first after capitalizing on a turnover within the Bruins’ zone. However the lead did not final lengthy. Morgan Geekie equalized for the B’s simply 67 seconds later. Boston scored two extra instances within the body with objectives from defensemen Mason Lohrei and Brandon Carlo. These three objectives got here on the Bruins’ final three pictures of the interval.
A number of defensemen scoring in the identical sport has been a uncommon incidence for the B’s this season. It is occurred solely twice in 90 video games, and never since Nov. 14.
Justin Brazeau and Jake DeBrusk (empty web) scored for the Bruins within the third interval. This offensive outburst, together with Jeremy Swayman‘s superior efficiency in web (extra on that under), powered the B’s to their third straight Sport 1 win relationship again to final season.
Sport 2 of the sequence is Wednesday evening in Florida. However earlier than we sit up for that matchup, listed here are three takeaways from Bruins-Panthers Sport 1.
Jim Montgomery makes use of timeout completely
The Bruins couldn’t have began the third interval any worse. Hampus Lindholm took a nasty penalty, which put the Bruins on the penalty kill. The Panthers practically scored with the person benefit, however even after the ability play ended, they continued to dominate puck possession and tallied 11 pictures on web over the primary six minutes of the interval.
Bruins head coach Jim Mongomery acknowledged his crew was shedding its focus and properly known as a timeout with 14:12 left within the interval. Montgomery had a fiery message for his crew, whereas captain Brad Marchand additionally confirmed his displeasure with the crew’s begin to the interval.
The timeout appeared to settle issues down for the Bruins as a result of they began to play a lot better, and fewer than two minutes later rookie ahead Justin Brazeau elevated their result in 4-1 with a fairly deke on Sergei Bobrovsky.
Former Bruins ahead P.J. Inventory beloved the timeout utilization by Montgomery when his crew was reeling.
What a outing!! That’s a coach that is aware of his crew. Each crew has 1 per sport. I’m so confused as to why coaches by no means use them. 4-1 #bruins #panthers
— PJ Inventory (@PJStock28) Might 7, 2024
Montgomery has made some good selections within the playoffs to date. His line adjustments earlier than Sport 3 within the first spherical helped produce two wins in Toronto. He is given Lohrei a bigger function. He has caught with Swayman because the starter, which has allowed the younger goalie to construct some spectacular momentum. He additionally known as out David Pastrnak earlier than Sport 7 in opposition to Toronto and the celebrity proper wing delivered.
Montgomery is pushing the best buttons in the meanwhile.
Mason Lohrei’s stellar play continues
Rookies usually do not present the form of confidence within the playoffs that Lohrei is taking part in with proper now. He made his postseason debut in Sport 3 in opposition to the Leafs and has steadily improved in all three zones with every passing sport.
His greatest efficiency got here Monday evening. He performed the puck with poise, knew precisely when to leap into the play and did a great job profitable possession in puck battles alongside the boards.
Lohrei gave the Bruins their first lead since Sport 4 of the primary spherical when he beat Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with an ideal snipe excessive quick aspect. His first profession playoff purpose put Boston on high 2-1.
Lohrei completed with one purpose, one help, two pictures, two shot blocks and 4 hits in 16:05 of ice time.
Jeremy Swayman offers one other nice efficiency
Swayman made a sixth consecutive begin for the primary time in his profession, and he gave one other unbelievable efficiency. The 25-year-old netminder wanted to be good early, and he rose to the event with 9 saves within the first interval.
His greatest cease got here on a rebound within the opening minute as he kicked out the best pad to maintain the sport scoreless.
Swayman did an awesome job preserving Boston’s result in start the third interval. The Panthers began the body tremendous aggressive and fired 11 pictures at Swayman within the first six minutes. Regardless of heavy visitors across the crease, Swayman thwarted each Panthers scoring likelihood throughout that stretch.
Swayman completed with 38 saves on 39 pictures. He nonetheless hasn’t allowed greater than two objectives in any of his seven playoff begins, and he leads all postseason netminders with a .955 save proportion.
Will the Bruins give Swayman a seventh straight begin Wednesday in Sport 2? Linus Ullmark performed rather well in opposition to the Panthers within the common season with a 3-0-0 document, a .947 save proportion and a 1.62 GAA.
However there is not any method the Bruins ought to take Swayman out of the web when he is been the very best goalie in all the playoffs. He seemed nice bodily in Sport 1, and so long as his stamina stays OK, he ought to proceed to play.
