Bruins vs. Panthers Game 2 lineup: Projected lines, pairings, goalies originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins showed no signs of wear and tear in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series versus the Florida Panthers despite playing in Game 7 of their first-round series just 48 hours before.
The B’s had tremendous energy and played with great physicality in a dominant 5-1 win over the Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night.
Can the Bruins replicate that success in Wednesday night’s Game 2? The last time the Bruins played in Round 2, they won Game 1 against the New York Islanders in 2021, then lost Game 2 and ultimately were eliminated in six games. Boston defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 on the road in Game 1 of the second round in 2018, only to lose each of the next four games.
One reason for optimism if you’re a Bruins fan is the team’s recent play on the road. The Bruins are 3-1-0 away from home in the 2024 playoffs with 3.25 goals scored per game, 1.50 goals allowed per game, a 33.3 power-play percentage and a perfect 100 percent rate on the penalty kill.
No major lineup changes are expected for the Bruins on Wednesday. Jesper Boqvist is back in for Patrick Brown at fourth-line center.
Boqvist in for Brown. Boqvist’s absence was health related, said Montgomery
— steve conroy (@conroyherald) May 8, 2024
If Jeremy Swayman starts Game 2, it’ll be his seventh consecutive appearance in net. He has never started that many games in a row during his NHL career. But he has shown no signs of physical wear and tear. And it would be foolish to sit a goalie with a league-leading .955 save percentage in the playoffs. The Bruins need to ride the hot hand for as long as they can.
The Panthers will once again be without center Sam Bennett, but he could potentially return to the lineup when the series shifts to Boston later this week.
No Sam Bennett tonight, but #FlaPanthers coach Paul Maurice said he expects Bennett to be with them on the road trip, pointing to a likely return in Game 3 or 4
— Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) May 8, 2024
The Panthers have won four of their last five Game 2s. The Bruins have lost their last four Game 2s.
Here are the projected lineups for Bruins-Panthers Game 2.
Boston Bruins (1-0)
Forwards
Brad Marchand–Charlie Coyle–Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha–Morgan Geekie–David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk–Trent Frederic–Justin Brazeau
John Beecher–Patrick Brown/Jesper Boqvist–Pat Maroon
Defensemen
Mason Lohrei–Charlie…