Game 6: Lomberg, Cousins in for Panthers, Marchand game-time decision for Bruins

The Panthers and Bruins will battle it out tonight in Game 6 at Boston’s TD Garden.

Holding a 3-2 lead entering Friday night’s matchup, the Panthers are making a few changes up front. 

Forwards Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins will draw into the lineup, while Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz come out, per Jameson Olive of Florida Panthers.com. 

Cousins played the Panthers’ first seven games of the postseason, before being healthy scratched in Game 3 of this series because of Sam Bennett’s return to the lineup. 

Lomberg played in Game 1 of the first round against the Lightning, but would miss games 2-4 with an illness. When Lomberg recovered, he wouldn’t return to the lineup because of the great performances from those on the Panthers’ fourth line. 

Looking for a spark, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice decides to remove Okposo and Lorentz from the lineup — both of whom have exceeded expectations in the postseason. 

“I’m looking at the two guys who are sitting out thinking they could really bring some legs tonight,” Maurice spoke about bringing in Lomberg and Cousins. “That’s why.”

Lorentz has two goals, and three points in nine playoff games, Okposo had two assists in eight games.

Lomberg and Cousins are expected to reunite on the fourth line, with Kevin Stenlund as the center. 

Projected Panthers lines 

Tarasenko – Barkov – Reinhart

Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk

Luostarinen – Lundell – Rodrigues

Lomberg – Stenlund – Cousins

Forsling-Ekblad

Mikkola-Montour

Ekman-Larsson-Kulikov 

Bobrovsky (Confirmed Starter)

Stolarz 

Boston will need a repeat of their Game 5 performance on Friday night if they want to get on a plane to Fort Lauderdale for a Game 7. 

Bruins captain Brad Marchand was listed as a game-time decision, per head coach Jim Montgomery. Marchand missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.

Trailing 3-2 in the series, the Bruins know all too well it’s not over until the handshake line.

They are in the same position that the Panthers were in last year against them — hosting Game 6, trailing 3-2 in the series. The Panthers won the series after overcoming a 3-1 deficit. 

“It’s another loud building and they’re going to bring it again,” Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour said. “Their lives are on the line and [it’s] another chance for us to find a way to close it out. It’s going to be a tough game.”

The Bruins played seven games in their first round against the Maple Leafs after Toronto clawed back down 3-1 to force a Game 7. 

Jeremy Swayman (6-5-0) is the projected starter for Boston. Sergei Bobrovsky (7-3-0) has been confirmed for the Panthers.