Minus their top two centers last week in Games 3 and 4 in Sunrise, Florida, the Boston Bruins were able to get the job done, win two games, and take a 3-1 lead in their first-round best-of-seven-series against the Florida Panthers. After two less-than-stellar performances at the TD Garden in Games 1 and 2, the Bruins got back to their style of play on the road in an arena where they lost both regular season games.
In this edition of Bruins Weekly, the Bruins’ center depth gets the job done on the road, the Bruins went back to their style on the road and were rewarded, and more.
Tomas Nosek Has a Strong Weekend in Florida
When the Bruins charted to Florida following their 6-3 loss in Game 2 on April 19, aside from Patrice Bergeron not traveling being available, there were questions surrounding whether or not their fourth-line center, Tomas Nosek was going to be available. At the end of Game 2, he delivered a high hit on Eric Staal in the corner of the Bruins’ defensive zone, which upset the Panthers. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not get involved and Nosek was good to play and Boston needed him.
David Krejci took warmups ahead of Game 3 but was a late scratch in favor of Nick Foligno because of an upper-body injury. That put more pressure on the centers and Charlie Coyle responded by filling in on the top line and Foligno scored a third-period goal in the 4-2 victory, but Nosek continued his strong regular season at the faceoff dot. Along with key penalty-killing shifts, he went 14-for-18 on faceoffs in Game 4 and was out in several key situations in both games as an extra center on defensive zone faceoffs.
Pavel Zacha centered the second line behind Coyle and Foligno centered the third line in both games on the road. Without Bergeron and Krejci, the Black and Gold got the job done up the middle and it feels like Florida missed on an opportunity to take control of the series without Boston’s top two centers in the lineup in both games at home.
Dmitry Orlov & Defense Activated Into the Offense in Games 3 & 4
In Games 1 and 2, the Bruins’ defense was not as active in the offense and did not join the rush and make plays out of their end. That all changed in Games 3 and 4.
Related: Bruins’ 3 Up, 3 Down: Hall, DeBrusk, Coyle, Krejci & More
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