Sure thing, here’s the content rewritten in a way that sounds more like a human wrote it: Bruins and Panthers Meet Again in Playoffs, One Round Later This Time
For the second year in a row, the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers will clash in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This time, it’s happening in the second round instead of the first. Last year, Florida stunned the Bruins by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win Game 7 in overtime.
Jim Montgomery, the Bruins’ coach, said his team has learned from the past but noted that this year’s circumstances are different. “It’s not Round 1,” he said after Monday’s morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena. “Round 1’s the Wild, Wild West. Round 2, people settle in more to who the teams are and their identity. And that’s what’s going to determine the success of whoever prevails in this series.”
While the Bruins swept the Panthers during the regular season (4-0-0), both teams were neck-and-neck at the top of the Atlantic Division for much of the year. Florida managed to overtake Boston in the final days of the season to clinch the division crown. According to NHL Stats, the Bruins or Panthers held first place in the Atlantic Division for a total of 187 days out of the 192-day season.
Pat Maroon, a forward for Boston, said the Panthers have improved a lot over the years. “They play stingy hockey, they play simple, hard, heavy, they don’t really get out of their structure,” he said. “It’s gonna be a good test.”
Florida knocked out Tampa in five games in the first round and hasn’t played since April 29, while Boston just won a dramatic Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Charlie Coyle, a forward for the Bruins, said he likes the momentum his team has coming into this series. “You’re in that mode and you’re right back into it,” he said. “It’s a new series, but the same mindset, the same things we want to bring.”
Bruins Lineup and Updates
Here’s how the Bruins lined up for their morning skate on Monday:
Forwards:
– Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk
– Pavel Zacha – Morgan Geekie – David Pastrnak
– James van Riemsdyk – Trent Frederic – Justin Brazeau
– Johnny Beecher – Patrick Brown – Pat Maroon
Defensemen:
– Mason Lohrei – Charlie McAvoy
– Hampus Lindholm – Parker Wotherspoon
– Derek Forbort – Kevin Shattenkirk
Goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark are both available, but Montgomery didn’t reveal who will start. Brandon Carlo, one of the Bruins’ defensemen, stayed in Boston for the birth of his son and is expected to join the team soon, though his exact return time is uncertain. If Carlo doesn’t play in Game 1, Matt Grzelcyk or Derek Forbort could step in.
Panthers Lineup and Updates
The Panthers lineup is expected to look like this:
Forwards:
– Carter Verhaeghe – Aleksander Barkov – Matthew Tkachuk
– Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sam Reinhart
– Evan Rodrigues – Kevin Stenlund – Vladimir Tarasenko
– Nick Cousins – Steven Lorentz – Kyle Okposo
Defensemen:
– Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
– Niko Mikkola – Brandon Montour
– Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Dmitry Kulikov
Goalies Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz are both available, with Bobrovsky being the likely starter. The Panthers’ Sam Bennett is out with an injury but is considered day-to-day.
Season Recap
Boston and Florida met four times during the regular season, with the Bruins coming out on top each time. Here’s a quick rundown of their games:
Oct. 30 in Boston:** Bruins came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in overtime.
Nov. 22 in Florida:** Bruins win 3-1, with Ullmark making 27 saves.
March 26 in Florida:** Bruins win 4-3, with Frederic tying the game and Zacha scoring the game-winner.
April 6 in Boston:** Bruins win 3-2 in overtime, thanks to Jesper Boqvist’s goal.
Playoff History
The Bruins and Panthers have met in the playoffs twice before: once in 1996, when Florida won in five games, and last year, when the Panthers staged a remarkable comeback to win in Game 7 overtime. The Bruins say they aren’t dwelling on the past, but Charlie Coyle acknowledged that the memory can serve as motivation. “These guys are a good team, they’ve been a great team,” he said. “It’s gonna be a great challenge, we’re looking forward to it.”
Series Schedule
The schedule for the series is as follows:
Game 1: Monday, May 6 at 8 p.m.
Game 2:Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 at TBD
Game 5, 6, 7: If necessary, with dates TBD
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