Bruins vs. Panthers Game 5 lineup: Projected lines, pairings, goalies originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If the Boston Bruins are going to reach the Eastern Conference Final, they’ll have to accomplish something the franchise has never done: overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
The Panthers lead this second-round playoff series 3-1 after a 3-2 victory in Game 4 at TD Garden on Sunday night. Florida has now won five consecutive playoff games in Boston dating back to last season.
The Bruins are 0-25 all-time in playoff series when they trail 3-1. The last time they trailed 3-1 was the 2020 second-round series versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in the COVID bubble playoffs. The B’s won Game 1, then lost four in a row. Boston is in danger of a similar scenario unfolding ahead of Tuesday night’s must-win Game 5 in Sunrise, Fla.
Bruins captain Brad Marchand traveled with the team and was on the ice for Tuesday’s morning skate, but head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the session that the veteran left wing is not an option for Game 5.
🎥 Coach Montgomery on Brad Marchand and the approach to Game 5: “[Brad’s] not an option tonight. I think our focus is on our structure, our execution, and getting ready to win Game 5. Now, giving him an opportunity is extra motivation, yes.” pic.twitter.com/uTkIu1t3Gm
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 14, 2024
Marchand suffered an upper body injury in Game 3 when he was hit in the head by Panthers center Sam Bennett. Bennett was not penalized, fined or suspended for the hit.
Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman played brilliantly in Game 4 with 39 saves (including 12 high-danger stops) on 42 shots. He leads all playoff goalies with a .930 save percentage. He is expected to make his 10th consecutive start in Game 5.
Regardless of who plays for the Bruins, one adjustment that must be made is shooting the puck a lot more. The Bruins have tallied 18 or fewer shots in each of the last three games. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has struggled in this series with an .885 save percentage, but he hasn’t been tested much through four games. The Bruins need to be a lot more aggressive in getting pucks on net and crashing the low slot to capitalize on rebounds.
Another improvement the Bruins need to make is staying out of the penalty box. It’s fair to say the Bruins have gotten a tough whistle in this series, but they need to be more disciplined. The Panthers have had six power-play opportunities in each of the last three games. It’s going to be extraordinarily tough for the Bruins to win if they give a highly skilled Panthers power play that many chances to score.
The Panthers are not expected to make any major changes to their lineup Tuesday.
Here are the projected lineups for Bruins-Panthers Game 5.
Boston Bruins (1-3)
Forwards
Jake DeBrusk–Morgan Geekie–David Pastrnak
James van Riemsdyk–Pavel Zacha–Justin Brazeau
Danton Heinen–Charlie Coyle–Trent Frederic
Jakub Lauko–John Beecher–Pat Maroon
Defensemen
Mason Lohrei–Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm–Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort–Andrew Peeke
Goalie
Jeremy Swayman
Florida Panthers (3-1)
Forwards
Vladimir Tarasenko–Aleksander Barkov–Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe–Sam Bennett–Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen–Anton Lundell–Evan Rodrigues
Steven Lorentz–Kevin Stenlund–Kyle Okposo
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling–Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola–Brandon Montour
Oliver Ekman-Larsson–Dmitry Kulikov
Goalie
Sergei Bobrovsky
