The Bruins are the clear favorites to beat the Florida Panthers within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The B’s earned that proper/burden by advantage of their record-breaking 65-win season.
But if the Panthers declare to not be intimidated by the Big, Bad Bruins 2.0 within the opening sequence that begins on the Garden for Games 1 and a pair of on Monday and Wednesday (the remainder of the schedule was anticipated to be launched late Friday night time), it’s not false bravado. The two groups basically cut up the four-game season sequence (the B’s can say they took the sequence by going 2-1-1), with each groups successful their residence video games.
In reality, it was the Cats’ extra time win over the B’s on Jan. 28 in Sunrise that will have saved their season. The Panthers had been large underachievers to that time. The defending Presidents’ Trophy winners had been an unimpressive 23-22-6, that they had misplaced their earlier three video games and appeared prepared to slide into oblivion. And it seemed like David Pastrnak had pounded no less than one nail into the Panthers’ coffin when he scored the go-ahead objective with 49 seconds left in regulation.
But with the goalie pulled and simply three seconds left, Sasha Barkov tied the sport, then Sam Reinhart gained it 17 seconds into extra time. That gave the Panthers life, they usually made one last push with a six-game win streak down the stretch to ultimately qualify for the playoffs.
Here’s a little bit extra fodder for the dread-inclined. In the earlier recreation in Sunrise again on Nov. 23, the B’s misplaced 5-2 in one in every of their extra convincing defeats of the season.
Matthew Tkachuk has been all the pieces the Panthers had hoped he could be, although they paid dearly for him, sending Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman Mackenzie Weegar to Calgary for him final summer time. In another period with out Connor McDavid, his 40-69-109 factors marketing campaign would have gained him the Hart Trophy. Barkov will likely be a Selke candidate for years to return, Carter Verhaeghe (42-31-73) may be essentially the most underrated participant within the NHL and defenseman Brandon Montour (16-57-73) is having fun with a breakout season.
The Panthers have their flaws, to make certain. Their most evident one is their 3.32 objectives towards common, twenty first within the NHL. Still, one may definitely see how, after making the troublesome adjustment after the large commerce, the Panthers (a not too-shabby 58-18-6 final season) convincing themselves they may take the subsequent logical step ahead by slaying the Bruins.
Florida defenseman Radko Gudas, talking with reporters in Sunrise after the workforce’s loss to Carolina of their common season finale on Thursday, appeared desirous to deal with the tall process.
“I think we are a confident group who believes we can play with anyone. The way we played Boston all season, it gave us confidence,” mentioned Gudas. “They are the team they are for a reason, but we are in the playoffs for a reason as well. I am excited for the challenge. If you want to win it all, you have to get through the biggest hurdle and that’s right from the start for us.”
Starting Monday, the bulls-eye the B’s have been sporting on their again solely will get greater.
Source: www.bostonherald.com