BSJ Game Report, Game 1: Bruins 3, Panthers 1 - Ullmark, Bertuzzi help lead Boston to series lead

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers to take a 1-0 lead in the first-round series, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Boston takes Game 1 against the Panthers: Without Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins knocked off the Florida Panthers, 3-1, to take a 1-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs.

David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk each scored for Boston. Tyler Bertuzzi had two assists, and Linus Ullmark made 31 saves.

Matthew Tkachuk scored for Florida, and Alex Lyon made 26 saves.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with a power play goal less than six minutes into the game. Bertuzzi tapped a no-look backhander to Pastrnak, who had the whole net to shoot at.

Lyon got a piece of Marchand’s wrist shot in transition, but not enough as No. 63 doubled Boston’s lead 3:41 into the second.

Tkachuk got one back for the Cats less than three minutes later when Dmitry Orlov coughed it up right to him coming down the slot, and the pesky winger flashed some smooth hands in tight.

DeBrusk restored the two-goal cushion, spotting the puck resting on top of Lyon’s pad amid the chaos and diving to whack it in with 2:28 left in the second.

After the Panthers out-attempted Boston, 44-32, in the first two periods, the Bruins 

Garnet Hathaway nearly made it 4-1 in the third, batting the puck in out of Lyon’s glove after a dominant offensive shift for Boston, but Florida successfully challenged for goaltender interference. 

FOUR UP

Tyler Bertuzzi: Bertuzzi was one of Boston’s best forwards in this one. It was his first career NHL playoff game, but you wouldn’t have known it. His chemistry with Pastrnak and David Krejci was evident. The second line stuck to its usual style of trading chances at 5-on-5, but in all situations, scoring chances favored the Bruins, 10-8, and high-danger looks were 7-4 with Bertuzzi on the ice. 

Jake DeBrusk: DeBrusk and the top line with Marchand and Pavel Zacha helped neutralize the Aleksander Barkov line. In just over five minutes of 5-on-5 play matched up against Barkov, the Bruins out-attempted Florida, 8-3. They held the Panthers’ captain without a shot and outscored his line, 1-0. DeBrusk’s goal was much-needed insurance, too. Against a hot goalie like Lyon, a grindy, extra effort like that can go a long way for the attacking team’s belief. 

Linus Ullmark: If there were any doubts that Ullmark would be ready to go, he put those to rest. 31 saves in all. He stopped nine of 10 high-danger shots in all situations and vastly outperformed his expected goals-against of 3.14. 

Penalty kill: The Bruins' man-down units were dominant against Florida’s potent power play, to say the least. Boston held Florida to just a one shot attempt across two power plays, and even outshot the Panthers, 2-0. The Panthers had just .02 expected goals on the man advantage. Charlie Coyle, who was one of Boston’s best players as well, and Tomas Nosek clamped down passing and shooting lanes with good stick positioning, and made it difficult for the Panthers to set up shop. 

TWO DOWN 

Health: Boston was without Bergeron after he was a game-time decision with a bug going around the room. David Krejci, Nick Foligno and Derek Forbort each returned to the lineup, and experienced typical peaks and valleys. Although no one’s ever accused them of being the fastest skaters in the league, Krejci and Foligno felt a step behind the play for most of the night. Krejci was last among B’s forwards with a Corsi-for at 5-on-5. Forbort and Connor Clifton, although not exactly the strongest drivers of offense, bled chances at 5-on-5 as well. As those three try to get back up to speed, and Bergeron’s status stays in limbo, health remains arguably the biggest obstacle for the Bruins.

Dmitry Orlov: Some tough moments for Orlov in this one. He set up Tkachuk perfectly, redirecting the puck right to him off the boards. He got burned pinching on a 50-50 puck early in the third, giving Florida a 2-on-1 going the other way. A hard back-check from Trent Frederic helped Charlie McAvoy close down the passing lane and bail him out, leading to an easy save for Ullmark. He tied Forbort the most giveaways among B’s defensemen with two. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

What a look by Bertuzzi to Pastrnak. Eyes in the back of his head. 

LOOSE PUCKS

Can’t help but laugh at Bertuzzi ripping Nick Cousin’s stick out of his hands, taking it onto the bench and trying to break it. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins are back in action on Wednesday for Game 2 against the Panthers. Puck-drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden