Panthers at Bruins Game 3: One way or another, this is probably going to be a slugfest
“This is where rivalries are built in the playoffs."
The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins don’t seem very fond of each other.
Boston’s 6-1 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday validated such sentiment — with both teams combining for 136 penalty minutes and a whopping 12 game misconducts in the third period alone.
An unexpected bout between Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak served as the emphatic stamp on a spirited response by the Panthers after snoozing through Game 1. But that superstar scrap might also be the spark that takes this acrimonious second-round series to another level.
“This is what playoffs is about,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said after Florida evened the series on Wednesday. “This is where rivalries are built in the playoffs. With last year, it kind of started there. They play a physical game and we’re able to do that as well. It creates a lot of emotion and adrenaline.”
Both teams will be looking to deliver the necessary response in Game 3 on Friday night at TD Garden.
“I think we should be pissed off, for sure,” Pat Maroon said. “I think especially about our game too.
“I think most importantly, all the other stuff — whatever, you know, the scrums, them yelling in our face after they scored — It’s over. It’s done with. We’ve got to be mad here.”
While most Bruins fans will be anticipating another pugnacious contest at the Garden, Boston can’t regain a series lead by just landing welts against Tkachuk and Co.
The Panthers pounced on just about every misplayed puck, errant pass, and failed read that the Bruins committed in their own zone on Wednesday, prompting Jim Montgomery to pull Jeremy Swayman from the game just 1:28 into the third period.
The Bruins did not name a starting goalie for Game 3, but Jeremy Swayman was in the starter’s net during morning skate — while Linus Ullmark remained on the ice late with Parker Wotherspoon, Danton Heinen and the other expected scratches.
Even with Swayman playing at a high level, the 25-year-old netminder will be in for a long night if Boston continues to fumble the puck against Florida’s forechecking pressure.
The Bruins will have reinforcements on the blue line for Game 3, as Montgomery noted after morning skate that Andrew Peeke will be available. The 26-year-old defenseman missed the last seven games after taking a puck off the hand during Game 2 against the Maple Leafs on April 22.
Peeke, acquired by Boston from Columbus at the trade deadline, should add some defensive fortitude and snarl to the Bruins’ third pairing against a physical Panthers team. Peeke logged 4:49 of shorthanded ice time against Toronto over five total periods of playoff hockey — blocking two shots and landing two hits.
“He does a real good job, because you know what you’re going to get,” Montgomery said of Peeke. “You’re going to get someone who’s going to compete, who’s going to be physical, gonna defend his net hard, and he’s going to join the rush.”
Peeke — who hails from Parkland, Florida, and whose father was a season-ticket holder for Panthers games — is excited to draw back into the lineup against his hometown team.
“If you’d tell young me that one day I’d be playing against this team, I would’ve told you no,” Peeke said. “But being in this spot, playing for the Bruins and having that honor is pretty special. Against your hometown team, makes it even better.”
The Bruins did not take part in line rushes during Friday’s morning skate, but Wotherspoon was on the ice late with Heinen (still day-to-day with an injury) and Kevin Shattenkirk — signaling that Wotherspoon will be the odd man out of the lineup with Peeke returning.
If Wotherspoon slots out, Peeke will likely skate on a third pair next to Derek Forbort.
Montgomery also noted that the Bruins will make a lineup change up front, with Jesper Boqvist skating early with other projected scratches like Matt Grzelcyk. If Boqvist slots out, Jakub Lauko is a candidate to draw into the lineup as a fleet-footed agitator capable of drawing penalties.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Florida -125. O/U: 5.5.
PANTHERS
Season record: 57-26-6. vs. spread: 44-45. Over/under: 34-51, 4 pushes
Last 10 games: 8-2-0. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 6-4
BRUINS
Season record: 52-24-15. vs. spread: 43-48. Over/under: 40-49, 2 pushes
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 3-6, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Florida 265, Boston 263
Goals allowed: Florida 198, Boston 221
Power play: Florida 23.5%, Boston 22.2%
Penalty minutes: Florida 1116, Boston 780
Penalty kill: Florida 82.5%, Boston 82.5%
Faceoffs won: Florida 51.3%, Boston 49.5%
Stat of the day: The Panthers held a 33-15 shot advantage in Game 2 with just three allowed in the third period.
Notes: Charlie Coyle gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s first period, but it was all Florida from there. “I thought our team was emotionally engaged,” Montgomery said. “I just didn’t think we had the juice. We couldn’t match the emotion that we had. That’s why you had the spillovers in the third period, because we did have emotion. A little undisciplined, but that’s part of playoff hockey.” … Boston’s goaltending situation could also be a question again after Ullmark relieved Swayman (four goals on 23 shots) in Wednesday’s third period. The 25-year-old Swayman has started eight of the team’s nine playoff games, but he said his workload didn’t factor into his tough night, in which he allowed more than two goals for the first time in this run. “One game at a time is all I’m worried about,” Swayman said. “Body feels great. I’m very lucky to be in this position. And I can’t wait ‘til Friday.”
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