Bruins vs. Panthers Game 3: Three keys to victory for B’s on home ice originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins needed to win at least one road game in their Eastern Conference second-round series versus the Florida Panthers, and they got that victory in Game 1.
But their performance in Game 2 — a lopsided 6-1 defeat — highlighted a couple areas that still need significant improvement as the series shifts to Boston for Games 3 and 4 at TD Garden.
Home ice hasn’t been much of an advantage for the B’s in recent playoff runs. They have a 3-5 record (1-3 in OT) with 2.75 goals scored and 2.75 goals allowed per game at home in the playoffs since the start of last season.
Let’s look at three ways the Bruins can take a 2-1 series lead with a Game 3 victory Friday night.
Top-six players need to step up
The Panthers’ top-six forwards have already made a strong impact in this series. Matthew Tkachuk scored in Game 1. Aleksander Barkov picked up an assist in Game 1, then scored two goals with two assists in Game 2. Sam Reinhart tied a Panthers playoff record with four points (all assists) in Game 2.
Florida has a ton of offensive firepower, even if center Sam Bennett doesn’t play. The Panthers have scored three or more goals in six of their seven games in the playoffs so far.
Unless Jeremy Swayman neutralizes the Panthers offense a couple more times — like he did in the series opener — the Bruins will have to score a lot more goals to reach the next round. And even though they got good contributions from depth players in Game 1, it’s the stars who really need to show up.
David Pastrnak played well to begin Game 1, but he was very quiet in Game 2 with zero shots. The superstar right wing scored the Bruins’ most important goal of the playoffs so far — Game 7 overtime winner vs. Leafs — but it’s the only time he’s found the back of the net in the last five games.
Pavel Zacha has three assists in two games versus Florida, but he also is looking for his first goal of the playoffs. In fact, Zacha still doesn’t have a goal in 19 career playoff games.
Brad Marchand earned an assist in Game 1 and Game 2, but he also hasn’t scored in his last five games. The captain also has tallied just three shots over the last three games combined. Charlie Coyle scored Boston’s only goal Wednesday night, but it was his only goal in nine playoff games so far.
The Bruins need Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm — two offensively gifted defensemen — to generate some scoring,…