Bruins

Bruins at Panthers Game 2: Jim Montgomery expects to have better execution from his skaters

“I thought our effort was good. I thought we were physical,” Montgomery acknowledged. “I don’t think our execution was close to where it needs to be."

By The Boston Globe and Conor Ryan

May 8, 2024

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SUNRISE, Fla. — Jim Montgomery didn’t mince words on Monday night.

The Bruins skated off the ice at Amerant Bank Arena with a convincing 5-1 win over the Panthers, but such a lopsided score didn’t tell the full story.

“I thought our effort was good. I thought we were physical,” Montgomery acknowledged. “I don’t think our execution was close to where it needs to be. … We made a lot of mistakes, and if it’s not for Jeremy Swayman, that would have been a lot closer game and maybe they come out on top.”

The good news? Even with more to give as far as shot generation and execution, Boston still did enough to steal the opening game of this second-round bout.

Even with an expected stronger retort from the Panthers on Wednesday night in Game 2, Florida is still going to be handed the unenviable task of trying to solve Swayman this postseason.

After yet another stellar performance between the pipes in Game 1 (38 saves on 39 shots), Swayman will likely get the nod once again in Game 2 — with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. from Sunrise.

Another start on Wednesday would mark Swayman’s seventh straight game in net. But there’s been little evidence to steer Montgomery and his staff away from sticking with the 25-year-old goalie.

Swayman is now 5-2 this postseason with an absurd .955 save percentage.

Swayman became the eighth goaltender in NHL history to allow two or fewer goals in each of his first seven starts of a single postseason — and the first since Jean-Sebastian Giguere in 2007.

“It’s a characteristic that some of the best players have is that confidence,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “They know how good they are. And that’s Sway.”

Beyond Swayman’s strong play in net, the Bruins have stifled two high-powered offenses in Toronto and Florida thanks to a suffocating penalty kill. Boston has negated 23 of 24 opposing power-play bids so far this postseason, including a perfect 3-for-3 showing against Florida on Monday night.

During Boston’s 4-0-0 record against the Panthers during the regular season, Florida was 0-for-11 on the man advantage.

The Bruins will look to leave South Florida with a 2-0 series edge on Wednesday, but the Panthers should submit a stronger response after Monday’s game was marred by D-zone lapses from some steady blueliners in Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling.

Florida is still awaiting the return of top-six center (and forechecking menace) Sam Bennett, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Panthers’ first-round series after taking a slapshot off his hand. Panthers coach Paul Maurice noted on Tuesday that Bennett is expected to return within the next one to three games.

Here are additional game details and pregame notes:

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.

TV, radio: ESPN, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Florida -180. O/U: 5.5.

BRUINS

Season record: 52-23-15. vs. spread: 43-47. Over/under: 39-49, 2 pushes

Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 2-7, 1 push

PANTHERS

Season record: 56-26-6. vs. spread: 43-45. Over/under: 33-51, 4 pushes

Last 10 games: 8-2-0. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 5-5

TEAM STATISTICS

Goals scored: Boston 263, Florida 265

Goals allowed: Boston 221, Florida 198

Power play: Boston 22.2%, Florida 23.5%

Penalty minutes: Boston 780, Florida 1116

Penalty kill: Boston 82.5%, Florida 82.5%

Faceoffs won: Boston 49.5%, Florida 51.3%

Stat of the day: Jeremy Swayman, who made 38 saves in the series opener, has yielded two goals or fewer in each of his first seven starts this postseason.

Notes: The Bruins won all four meetings against the Panthers in the regular season. … Boston, won the opener of its first-round series against Florida last year – and three of the first four contests – before the Panthers rebounded to dispatch the Presidents’ Trophy winner in seven games. … Brandon Carlo has enjoyed a whirlwind stretch. He assisted on star David Pastrnak’s overtime goal in the Bruins’ 2-1 victory over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night and became a dad to a son at approximately 3 a.m. on Monday. He then hopped on a plane and flew to Florida before joining his teammates approximately two hours before the start of Game 1. … “A pretty busy night, didn’t know if I was going to make it in time, but sure happy I did,” Carlo said. … Morgan Geekie, Justin Brazeau, and Jake DeBrusk each scored a goal and Pavel Zacha notched two assists for the Bruins on Wednesday. … Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk scored in the second period to extend his point streak to six games (four goals, six assists), the longest such run to open the postseason in Panthers’ franchise history. He has recorded a point in nine straight games (five goals, nine assists) dating back to the regular season.