One game at a time.
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 6:30 PM
Where: TD Garden — Boston, Mass.
How to follow: TBS, truTV, MAX, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective: Litter Box Cats
Know your enemy
- 5-2 in the postseason, Series tied 1-1
- Matthew Tkachuk: 4G-9A-13PTS; Aleksandr Barkov: 4G-8A2PTS; Carter Verhaeghe: 6G-4A-10PTS
- Sergei Bobrovsky: 6-2-0, 2.62 GAA, .892 save percentage
Game notes
- It’s another quick turnaround as Game 4 of the second round is on tap between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers tonight. The B’s trail the Panthers, 2-1, in the series, after dropping last game and allowing four power-play goals.
- Probably the biggest news heading into the game is the status of Brad Marchand and if he misses Game 4 and potentially Game 5.
- Marchand did not practice on Saturday after leaving Game 3 early following what appears to be an injury from Sam Bennett’s hit/punch. Montgomery said at yesterday’s practice that Marchand is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
- What transpired on the ice with Bennett is also concerning and what it could mean for the rest of the series if things get out of hand. The referees missed that one for whatever reason, but the series could get ugly if things like this continue to slide or aren’t called.
- The games have all been lopsided in this series so far, especially the last two, as the Bruins have had a hard time consistently getting pucks to the net for all three periods.
- Brandon Carlo said last game that the team needs to be better in front in their defensive zone and clear pucks out of harms way. The Bruins will need to get the puck out and get some clean breakouts going.
- The Bruins have been outscored 13 to 8 this series by the Panthers and are just struggling to get shots on net, particularly in the first period. The Bruins only had six shots on net between the third period of Game 2 and first in Game 3. Add in five shots from the second period on Friday and that’s 11 shots on net for those three periods before they found some footing offensively to end Game 3.
- Call me optimistic, but I think there were some good things going on in that third period which will hopefully carry over for the Bruins tonight. For one, they had one of the best power plays they didn’t score on, but generated chances.
- Danton Heinen was on the ice yesterday and could be a possibility tonight. He slotted in on a third line combination of him, Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic.
- Practice lines, per The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, were mixed to account for Marchand’s absence. Kevin Shattenkirk and Parker Wotherspoon were the fourth defensive pairing.
- Simplify the game, win puck battles and shoot — here’s hoping the Bruins accomplish those things in Game 4.
- See ya tonight!