Not only is Andrew Peeke back in the Boston Bruins’ lineup, but he’s making his return against his hometown team.
The defenseman – from Parkland, Florida – suffered an injury in Game 2 of the first round after blocking a shot with his hand, but has been cleared to play in Friday’s Game 3 against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.
“If you’d tell young me that one day I’d be playing against [the Panthers], I would’ve told you no,” Peeke said Friday. “But being in this spot, playing for the Bruins and having that honor is pretty special.”
Peeke grew up going to games at Amerant Bank Arena because his father had season tickets. Now, the seats belong to his brother. The family has had to change its allegiances since Peeke was traded to Boston at the deadline from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“They’re Bruins fans now,” Peeke said. “If you saw Peeke ‘52’ jerseys, that’s my brother and his fiancé.”
While Peeke played youth hockey in Florida, he relocated to New England to advance his career. The 26 year old spent three seasons at South Kent School in Connecticut to play with the Selects Academy. Peeke skated for a season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers before heading to Notre Dame for NCAA hockey.
The Panthers are now the enemy, but Peeke admitted it’s been exciting to see the game grow in Florida in the past few years, especially at the NHL level.
“Being a fan at the time was tough, but being able to see that building and see it full and the passion they have – being a Florida guy I want the game to grow – so them being in the playoffs is obviously a great thing for Florida hockey,” Peeke said. “That’s not what I care about though right now, trying to knock them out in the next couple.”
Peeke’s reentry into the lineup reinforces the Bruins’ backend. Following the 6-1 loss in Game 2 – and the chaos that ensued in the third period – Peeke’s edge and defense-first mentality will be a welcomed addition. Peeke will likely skate on the third pair with Derek Forbort in place of Parker Wotherspoon.
“He did a real good job because you know what you’re going to get,” Bruins coach Jim Montogmery said Friday of Peeke. “Someone who is going to compete, who is going to be physical, is going to defend his net hard and is going to join the rush.”
To the surprise of no one, the Panthers have fed off of their tenacious forecheck and, in Game 2, suffocated Boston’s breakouts. The Bruins’ defensive lapses and spotty coverage put them in a deep hole against a Florida team who got its offense going. Now, they’ve got to get back to the simple, direct game that reaped rewards in Game 1.
“Fatigue is an excuse, we’re playing for the Stanley Cup. You’ve got to push through whatever it is,” Montgomery said. “For me, what I didn’t like was our inability to play north, our inability to break pucks out, get pucks out of our D-zone, get pucks through the neutral zone clean and our lack of forecheck.”
There will likely be carry over from the end of Game 2 – which included 12 game misconducts, a fight between David Pastnrak and Matthew Tkachuk, and a cumulative 146 hits thrown through 60 minutes. While the Bruins have to be smart, controlled and measured about the emotions of the series, it seems they’re ready to show their bit on home ice.
“I think we should be pissed off, for sure,” Pat Maroon said Friday. “Especially about Game 2. All the other stuff, whatever – the scrums, yelling in our face after they score – it’s over, it’s done with. We’ve got to be mad here and play with intensity.”
In addition to Peeke’s return, it looks like Jakub Lauko could be in the lineup for the first time since April 22. Montgomery said that Danton Heinen – who was on the third line with James van Riemsdyk and Trent Frederic – remains day to day. Jesper Boqvist didn’t skate Friday morning because of a “miscommunication,” Montgomery said, but he confirmed they would be making a change up front. The Bruins have decided on their starting goaltender, but did not disclose if it would be either Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Friday at TD Garden for Game 3 between the Bruins and Panthers.
“I liked our team this morning. I think they’re calm and focused,” Montgomery said. “I think tonight, the juices will be going, especially with our crowd.”
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