The Boston Bruins are set to kick off their second round series against the Florida Panthers on Monday at 8 p.m.
That was fast.
Just two days after the Boston Bruins tucked away the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference First Round, they’re jumping right into the next series against the Florida Panthers on Monday.
The biggest news out of Boston’s morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena was the absence of Brandon Carlo, whose wife Mayson gave birth on Monday morning. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he’s “very hopeful” Carlo makes it to Florida in time for Game 1 later that night.
Without Carlo, this is how the Bruins lined up during morning skate, according to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa:
Brad Marchand - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha - Morgan Geekie - David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk - Trent Frederic - Justin Brazeau
Johnny Beecher - Patrick Brown - Pat Maroon
Jakub Lauko, Jesper Boqvist
Mason Lohrei - Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm - Parker Wotherspoon
Derek Forbort - Kevin Shattenkirk
Matt Grzelcyk - Andrew Peeke
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark
Michael DiPietro
If Carlo cannot make it in time for Game 1, it appears Derek Forbort will be in line to make his 2024 Playoff debut. Additionally, emergency call-up Patrick Brown appears poised to replace Jesper Boqvist as the fourth-line center, based on line rushes.
"You just got to stay ready," Brown told reporters in Florida. "I've been watching the games on TV. You get more anxious watching than you do playing, so I've been following and I'm just excited to be here."
Brown had 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 42 games with AHL Providence this season. He recorded a goal and two assist in two Calder Cup playoff games, and is riding a seven-game point streak in the AHL.
"We got to generate more offense," Montgomery told reporters in Florida. "We're playing the number one defensive team 5-on-5. So it's not going to be easier, but we got to be harder offensively."
Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman is expected to be back in the net for Game 1 after an all-world performance in the first round.
Danton Heinen (undisclosed) has not returned to practice yet, but Andrew Peeke logged another full practice as he works his way back from a finger injury. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney announced on Sunday that he expects every player to be available at some point in the series.
“We’ll do a little inventory, triage stuff in terms of figuring out where some guys are at,” Sweeney said on Sunday. “At some point in time, we expect those guys to be available. Whether that’s Game 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, I don’t know yet.”
Looking at the other side, the Panthers come in with a week’s worth of rest after dispatching the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Led by Selke Trophy-finalist Aleksander Barkov and Vezina Trophy-finalist Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida will be as challenging an opponent as last season, if not more.
The Panthers will be missing Sam Bennett in Game 1. The 27-year-old forward has not played since Game 2 against the Lightning after sustaining an upper-body injury. He had a goal and an assist in Game 2, a 3-2 overtime win for Florida, and he scored 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 69 regular season games.
Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk lead the team with nine points apiece, while Bobrovsky has a .896 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average.
After blowing a 3-1 lead to this team in the first round last season, the Bruins are eager to settle the score.
"You kind of want to move on and turn the page," Bruins forward Charlie Coyle told reporters in Florida. "But it was such a high to be on [after Game 7 against Toronto], but then you get to start over. It's a new series now, so you try not to kind of dwell on it even though it was a good night, it was a good feeling, but we're onto the next here."
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