Bruins start revenge tour vs.
Panthers with 5-1 win
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 [May 07, 2024]
Mason Lohrei scored once and added an assist and the Boston
Bruins used a three-goal second period to claim a 5-1 victory over
the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday in the opener of an
Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Morgan Geekie, Brandon Carlo, Justin Brazeau and Jake DeBrusk also
scored for the Bruins, who reached the second round of the Stanley
Cup playoffs thanks to their Game 7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs
on Saturday.
Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 38 saves, and Pavel Zacha
collected two assists. Swayman has surrendered two goals or fewer in
all seven games he has played in the postseason.
"Absolutely incredible," Carlo said on ESPN of Swayman. "From a
defenseman like myself, I love the defensive side of the game, but
having a guy like that behind you speaks volumes."
Boston coach Jim Montgomery added, "I think our confidence has gone
to another level after pushing through the first round. And that
confidence makes you believe that you can (win). It's a great place
to be mentally."
Matthew Tkachuk scored for the Panthers, who racked up 110 points in
the regular season and finished atop the Atlantic Divisions
standings, one point ahead of the Bruins. Florida needed only five
games to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the
playoffs.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots.
"We weren't great tonight," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "I
don't know if the game was exactly like the score, but it doesn't
matter. They played well, they looked like they were in a bit of a
rhythm. I thought they played a very patient game, so good for them
and not so good for us."
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Wednesday in
Sunrise.
The Bruins have won all five meetings between the teams in 2023-24
(regular season and postseason) after Florida knocked them out of
last year's playoffs in the first round.
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May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Jake
DeBrusk (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the
Florida Panthers during the third period in game one of the second
round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Only 67 seconds after Boston fell behind 1-0,
Geekie tied the clash with his third goal of the playoffs at 12:52
of the second period. A Florida turnover resulted in a scramble at
the net, and Geekie pounced on the loose puck before sending it past
Bobrovsky.
Lohrei's first career playoff marker came at 16:17 of the middle
frame, and it served as the go-ahead goal.
Carlo, whose wife delivered a baby boy earlier Monday, made it 3-1
with 21 seconds remaining in the second. Carlo joined a rush and
found the mark from the right circle to net his second goal of the
playoffs.
"It's been wild, for sure, but so blessed," Carlo said postgame on
ESPN. "This group, from Game 7 (against Toronto) to here, I'm so
fortunate to play with these guys. I'm so proud of my wife, she did
amazing -- we had the baby about 3 o'clock. Pretty busy night and I
wasn't sure I was going to make it, but so happy I did."
Brazeau added his first career playoff tally 7:13 into the third
period by converting a backhanded deke on a breakaway, and DeBrusk
added an empty-net goal to round out the scoring.
After a goalless opening period, Tkachuk broke through at 11:45 of
the middle frame. Taking advantage of a Boston turnover, Tkachuk
gained the puck in the high slot and used a screen to record his
fourth goal of the postseason.
--Field Level Media
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