If you had a ticket to Game 2 in South Florida, you were treated to one helluva live event!
Heck, it was wildly entertaining just watching it on the old tube at home.
Of course the best part of it was the Panthers bouncing back from their Game 1 loss to get the decisive 6-1 win. And the physicality and fights were reminiscent of heavy weights slugging it out for the big title...
The highlight was watching the birth of a new rivalry take place right before your eyes. You felt it building in Game 1, but Game 2 was the match that hit the powder.
Hatred for a team is common during the playoffs, and it's obvious these two teams really hate each other. This certainly stems from last year's shocking route of the B's at the hands (claws) of the Cats, and general playoff hatred of having to play the same team over and over.
With the series tied 1-1 and heading to Bean Town, expect the intensity to only go up!
TONIGHT
It's very rare that I'm ever right - just ask my wife * insert comedic snare drum *
Last blog I mentioned how the Panthers needed to get to Swayman if they were going to find any success. An obvious statement, yes. You need to beat the goalie to win the game.
But what I was actually saying was that Swayman holds the keys for Boston. As talented as the Bruins are, I believe Swayman is their engine to success.
Boston has exercised an unconventional goalie platoon this season where they were routinely rotating Swayman and Ullmark, despite how well each guy was playing.
Entering the playoffs, Swayman was on a hot streak. My feelings were that if you could get to Swayman, it would put doubt in Boston's coaching staff and they might "panic" and make a change for Game 3.
What I wasn't expecting was them to pull Swayman in Game 2...
I understand the logic from a mental standpoint, which is the most important part to a goalie's game. It wasn't really his fault, he's played well up to that point, pull him and give him the rest of the night off.
However...I believe this was the Bruins sort of "showing their hand" in regards to the goaltending position. To me it made them look a bit fragile. Especially with Ullmark coming in cold and allowing a couple more goals.
In contrast, Bob allowed five goals in Game 1, yet, Maurice left him in. The Cats knew they weren't coming back that game, and so Bob and the team took their lumps on home ice and set their sights on Game 2.
The question a lot of folks are asking now is who is starting Game 3 for Boston? Florida went down a similar path a couple seasons ago in the playoffs when they were switching back and forth between Bob and Driedger, even going so far as throwing in Knight for a game. I've always felt that a goalie circus is such a distraction in the playoffs. You need a clear #1, otherwise there's always a weird shred of doubt.
Florida looks stronger in the blue paint from a psychological warfare perspective. Bob is the #1. No questions about it. Unless there's an injury, flat starts/play, or desperation, Stolarz should not be between the pipes.
I'm very curious who Boston goes with tonight. To me, you go back to Swayman. But I don't know what their plan is.
Regardless of who it is, the Panthers need to be ready for a hot/angry Boston crowd tonight when the puck drops in TD Garden.
I'm expecting a very heavy attack from the B's to try and overwhelm the Cats and get them on their heels early. They will try and snuff out any life and momentum the Panthers have from the lopsided Game 2 win.
I think Florida knows this and will be trying to do the exact same thing, rather than sit back and try to weather that storm ( though they are capable of that, too).
Look for the big guns to stay in the mix tonight. Reinhart had four assists last game, with Barky posting his first four-point (2G, 2A) playoff performance. Monty scored and Forsling found the twine. Not only that, secondary players like Lorentz are chipping in on the offensive efforts -- what a beauty redirect he had. Actually, Florida's fourth line has been nasty these past two games. Probably the best line for the Cats in terms of puck possession and shut down ability. You need all four lines firing in the playoffs, and the Panthers had that going in Game 2.
On top of all this, it sounds like Bennett's return is almost eminent.
And so we sit back, strap it down, and get ready for a heated exchange against two of the league's best...
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GO PANTHERS!
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