BSJ Game Report: Bruins 7, Panthers 3 - B’s clinch playoff berth, balanced scoring continues taken at BSJ Headquarters (Bruins)

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BSJ Game Report: Bruins 7, Panthers 3 - B’s clinch playoff berth, balanced scoring continues

By Conor Ryan

Mar 23, 2019 • 10:43 pm

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Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 7-3 win over the Panthers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

B’s clinch playoff spot: For the third straight season, the Bruins have punched their ticket to the postseason, as Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Panthers clinched a playoff berth for the B’s. Boston stands as the second club in the Eastern Conference to secure its spot in the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup, with the Lightning already locking down both a playoff berth and the Presidents’ Trophy last week. The B’s didn’t have have to drag out their pursuit of a playoff berth, as Boston took care of business in short order against a Panthers club that is outside of the playoff picture — scoring a season-high five goals in the second period to put the game away.

The Bruins have been playing some sound hockey during their four-game win streak — outscoring the competition by an 18-4 margin during this stretch while receiving offensive contributions from up and down the roster. On Saturday, seven different players spread across three different forward lines and two defensive pairings lit the lamp for the Bruins — while 13 players finished with at least a point (including Jaroslav Halak in net). All things considered, the Bruins have to be feeling pretty good going into Monday’s anticipated matchup against the Lightning.

Zdeno Chara cashes in:

On the same day that Chara signed a one-year contract extension, it’s only fitting that the veteran managed to put together one of his most complete efforts of the season — tallying a goal and assist while posting a plus-4 rating over 25:07 of ice time.

Chara’s tally, coming off of a wrister from the slot, meant more than just convenient timing following his new deal — as the tally stood as the 200th goal of his Hall-of-Fame career. At 42 years and six days old, Chara is also the oldest Bruins player to score a regular-season goal since a 43-year-old Mark Recchi buried one all the way back on April 2, 2011.




Along with his tally, Chara also set up
David Pastrnak
for his 33rd goal of the season at 16:36 in the second stanza — recovering a puck along the boards and hitting the winger in stride for a breakaway bid. He might have guaranteed his return for a 14th season in Boston, but Chara certainly didn't look like a 42-year-old skater on Saturday night.


FOUR UP


Noel Acciari:
After anchoring a new-look fourth line that generated 10 5v5 scoring chances during Thursday’s win over the Devils, Acciari and his line was back at it on Saturday in Florida — with
David Backes
feeding Acciari for his fifth goal of the season just 2:23 into regulation. Add in a complete beatdown of
MacKenzie Weegar
later in the second, and it was a solid night for Acciari down in Sunrise.




Karson Kuhlman:
A last-second call-up due to
Sean Kuraly
’s hand injury, Kuhlman made an emphatic statement up on the second line with
David Krejci
and
Jake DeBrusk
— scoring his second career goal off of an impressive unassisted score. While the tenacious winger might project as much more of a bottom-six contributor if he pans out in the NHL, make no mistake — Kuhlman really does have an intriguing skillset, and a nice set of wheels.


Jaroslav Halak:
Wasn’t the cleanest outing for Halak, but with his 31-save effort on Saturday, the backup netminder clinched his 20th win of the season — joining
Tuukka Rask
(26-10-5) in the 20-win plateau. This is the first year that the Bruins have rolled out a pair of goalies with at least 20 wins since
Andy Moog
and
Reggie Lemelin
won 24 and 22 games, respectively, during the 1989-90 season.


Patrice Bergeron:
Ho hum — another pedestrian night from Bergeron, who set up
Brad Marchand’s
32nd goal of the season just 28 seconds into the second period off of an impressive defensive effort while adding an empty-net goal in the third. Even with a slew of injuries, you have to think that Bergeron has once again clinched another Selke finalist nod.




ONE DOWN


Power Play:
Even if
Steven Kampfer
eventually lit the lamp on the man advantage at 15:48 in the second period, Boston’s power play was largely ineffective for most of the night, especially a top unit that has most of its big guns back in place sans
Torey Krug.
Over its last six games, Boston has only cashed in on two of its last 12 opportunities on the man advantage.



PLAY OF THE GAME




PARTING THOUGHT


A goal and about 45 left hooks landed for Acciari on Saturday night. Pretty good night for the grinder.




LOOKING AHEAD:


The Bruins will close out their four-game road trip with one of their top tests of the regular season, as the B’s will take on the Lightning on Monday. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. Boston defeated Tampa Bay in its last matchup on Feb. 28 at TD Garden, although it will face a tougher challenge at Amalie Arena. However, there’s a chance that
Torey Krug, Matt Grzelcyk
and
Marcus Johansson
might be cleared for the matchup.

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