BSJ Game Report, Gm. 2: Panthers 6, Bruins 3 - Sloppiness quiets Bruins in Game 2 loss

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, who tied the first-round series, 1-1, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Big third period lifts Florida over Bruins: Brandon Montour scored twice in a four-goal third period for the Florida Panthers in their 6-3 win over the Bruins to tie the series, 1-1.

Nick Cousins and Matthew Tkachuk each had two assists for the Panthers, and Alex Lyon made 34 saves.

Brad Marchand and Tyler Bertuzzi each scored for the Bruins, and Linus Ullmark made 25 saves. 

Sam Bennett opened the scoring 1:42 into the second period in his return to the lineup, his first game since March 20, after Brandon Carlo turned it over in the slot. Florida capitalized as Ullmark couldn’t squeeze the puck between his legs. 

Marchand opened the scoring with his second career short-handed goal in the playoffs. Nosek’s pressure forced the Panthers turned it over themselves, and Marchand beat Lyon low, glove-side again. 

Eric Staal answered just 2:05 later for the Panthers. Cousins found him all alone in the high slot, and Staal walked in before rifling one top shelf.

Bertuzzi cashed in once again at the net-front to tie it 2-2 with 2:59 left in the middle frame, redirecting Pavel Zacha’s one-timer as the power play expired, but Montour restored Florida’s lead just 22 seconds into the third with a wrister from the point during a 4-on-4. 

Carter Verhaeghe extended the Panthers’ lead to 4-2 after another costly turnover for Boston with 13 minutes left in regulation. 

Montour added another to make it 5-2 on a slap shot from the point with 7:30 to go, and Eetu Luostarinen made it 6-2 on the empty net late. Taylor Hall cut it to 6-3 with 1:10 to go for the final. 

ONE UP

Brad Marchand: No. 63 was the heartbeat of the Bruins in this one. The top line had another strong night at 5-on-5 against Aleksander Barkov’s line. Marchand led all forwards in time on ice (19:43), landed four shots and had a critical shorthanded goal to give Boston life in the second. 

ONE ‘MEH’

Linus Ullmark: Ullmark was strong for the first 40 minutes before faltering in the third. He was making quality saves, including a big stop on a Barkov breakaway, but Montour beat him from long range twice, albeit through traffic, and his gamble to stack the pads on Verhaeghe backfired, even if it looked cool. He stopped nine of 10 high-danger chances, but let up two medium-danger and low-danger goals. Never ideal to give up five when expected goals-against are 3.04. Boston didn’t help him much in the third, though. 

THREE DOWN

Turnovers by the defense: This bit Dmitry Orlov in Game 1, and it continued in Game 2 for Boston. Carlo gave it right up the middle before Bennett’s first goal of the game, and Charlie McAvoy threw the puck into no man’s land in the run-up to the Verhaeghe goal. Turnovers weren’t just specific to the blue-liners, but they were glaring, resulting in goals for Florida. Boston combined for 15 individual turnovers tonight. 

Bertuzzi-Krejci-Pastrnak: Bertuzzi may have cashed in at the net-front once again, but the second line was vastly outplayed at 5-on-5. With all three on the ice, Florida held a 12-3 advantage in attempts, 9-2 edge in shots and a 1-0 scoring differential at 5-on-5. Scoring chances were 7-2 Florida, and high-danger looks were 4-0. Ullmark bailed Bertuzzi out in the first after No. 59 coughed it up the middle, too. Not good enough. 

Derek Forbort: Florida made things miserable for the Bruins on the breakout, and they took advantage against Forbort, not exactly the slickest puck-mover. Shot attempts favored Florida, 16-10, against No. 28. Forbort (14:03) and Connor Clifton (15:55) were last among B’s defensemen in ice time, too. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

If you had to pick, something, anything, it would be Marchand’s goal. After his first full regular season without a shorty as an NHLer, his second-period goal gave Boston life, if only briefly.

LOOSE PUCKS

Not something you’d like to see if you’re the Bruins, in my opinion.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins are back in action on Friday for Game 3 against the Panthers. Puck-drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla.