Three takeaways: Panthers showing playoff maturity, Bobrovsky quietly coming up big
Paul Maurice provided a postgame update on Sam Reinhart, who left the game after taking a puck to the face
The Florida Panthers swept a pair of games in Boston by simply doing what they’ve done all season.
When things were going well, Florida leaned into playing its brand of hockey, grinding the Bruins down as saw in Game 3.
On Sunday, the Panthers showed their maturity, collectively keeping their cool despite falling behind 2-0 in an emotional and hostile barn.
Florida’s impressive comeback win in Game 4 was another example of the many ways the Panthers can beat a team if they aren’t completely on their game for 60 minutes.
Speaking of Sunday’s win, let’s dive into the takeaways:
Cats keeping their cool
With so much of the focus entering Game 4 on Bennett and Marchand and how the Bruins would respond, there was a sense of expectation that we’d see some fireworks early in the game in the form of hitting and fighting.
To their credit, the Bruins were more aggressive in seeking out and delivering big hits, but the Panthers kept their cool and did not retaliate or get goaded into taking any bad penalties.
It was the continuing of a trend that we’ve seen all series from the Panthers, one that they’d been trying to succeed at during their opening round series against Tampa Bay.
Through four games against the Bruins, Florida has been shorthanded just 11 times.
“We've been a very disciplined and very composed team,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “Fortunately, in a good way, it's gone unnoticed. We're alright with that.”
Lundell goal the spark
Down 2-0 during the latter stages of the second period, it was Anton Lundell’s quick goal from just off the half boards that got Florida going.
Speaking about it after the game, Maurice said it brought him back to the second round of last year’s playoffs, when Florida was down 2-0 to Toronto on the road in Game 2, and Lundell scored a goal that sparked a Panthers comeback win.
Lundell added an assist on Sam Bennett’s game-tying power play goal early in the third period. He’s now up to seven points in Florida’s nine playoff games.
“He's been exceptionally good for us, and that kind of kind of fired the belief, right?” Maurice said of Lundell’s goal. “It wasn't going for us around the net, but we're playing pretty darn well.”
Sneaky big game from Bob
Sergei Bobrovsky’s playoff statistics are nothing to write home about, outside of his 7-2 record that is.
He’s come up with several key stops in big moments for the Panthers and already made what will probably end up being the save of the playoffs back in Game 2 against Tampa Bay, but Florida has done such a good job limiting opportunities for their opponents that the majority of what Bob does have to deal with end up being power plays and high danger rush chances.
Bobrovsky gave up two goals – a one-timer on the power play and a long wrister that was possibly deflected – on five shots during the first period.
He was lights out after that, stopping all five high danger shots by Boston while not allowing them a single rebound shot.
“He won’t like the second goal. Fine,” Maurice said. “Everything after the second goal is world class.”
Bonus takeaway: Sam Reinhart good for Game 5
Panthers forward Sam Reinhart left Game 4 early in the third period after taking a puck to the face in front of the Bruins goal.
He immediately left the ice and headed to the Panthers locker room.
Despite there being over 16 minutes left in the game, Reinhart wasn’t seen again.
That’s because he was cut so badly by the puck that it was taking the medical staff a while to patch Reinhart up.
Maurice said there is no concern about his availability for Game 5 on Tuesday.
“He got hit with the puck and was split straight through,” Maurice said. “He was bleeding buckets on the way off (the ice).”
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