Five Takeaways from Panthers’ Game 2 win over Bruins

Trailing 1-0 in the series, the Florida Panthers returned to the TD Garden in an attempt to even things up before they make their return to Sunrise. 

 

The return of Sam Bennett was instrumental for the Panthers tonight as they were able to bolster the forward depth and comfortably take down the Bruins tonight in a 6-3 win, evening up the series at 1-1.

 

Here’s tonight’s takeaways.

Playoff Sam Bennett is back

Sam Bennett last played March 20 in Detroit – almost a month to the day. 

 

The Panthers received great news today when it was announced that Bennett would be in the lineup.

 

The 26-year-old forward has had quite the success in his playoff career, putting up 27 points in 45 career playoff games ahead of this one. 

 

Bennett’s game is made for the playoffs and it was on full display tonight.

He was one of, if not the most noticeable Panther on the forecheck. He didn’t miss the opportunity to land a hit or put pressure on the Bruins defenders.

Bennett’s tenacity eventually led to the first goal of the game, where he slipped the puck, and himself, past Linus Ullmark to give Florida a 1-0 lead.

 

He once again fit perfectly alongside Matthew Tkachuk on line 2, and the old Calgary pals made sure to fill in the stat sheet tonight. 

 

Brandon Montour scores… twice

Enough can’t be said about Brandon Montour’s record-breaking offensive season.

 

Florida’s top point-producing defenseman showed NHL fans tonight why he had 73 points this season.

 

Montour broke the 2-2 tie early into the third period, rifling a shot past Ullmark to give Florida the lead.

 

12 minutes later, Montour put a stamp on the game with his second goal, putting Florida up 5-2 with under 10 minutes to play in regulation.

 

Montour finished the night with two goals in 22 minutes of ice time.

 

Still no power play luck

Florida got out of this game with another empty night on the power play. The team went 0/3 tonight on the PP, making that 0/5 on the series.

 

To make matters worse they gave up a shorthanded goal while leading 1-0 in the first period.

 

The Panthers have scored just one goal on the power play dating back to last year’s playoffs – that goal came in the second round against Tampa. 

 

The goose egg on the power play didn’t end up hurting them tonight,  but they’ll need to find the back of the net during this series on the man-advantage.

 

Florida was able to play their game

Playoffs are a different animal from that of the regular season.

 

When you see team’s get into a dominant groove during the 82 game year, it doesn’t necessarily translate to the postseason.

 

Tonight the game was an entertaining back and forth battle for the first 40 minutes of play. Both teams played each other pretty tight and didn’t give each other much breathing room to breakaway.

 

That all changed when the final period began. 

 

Florida was able to jump out to the early lead because of Brandon Montour’s first goal. Boston was still keeping it pretty close up until Carter Verhaeghe gave Florida a two goal cushion. 

 

After Florida got the breathing room, they began to control the game. 

 

The team was locked into their brand of hockey; controlling the puck and activating the blueline in the offensive zone. 

 

For the first time really all series, Florida looked to be the clearly dominant team in the late stages of the game.

 

Not having to play catch up calmed the Panthers down tonight. It opened up their game and possibly their confidence against the Bruins.

 

Alex Lyon’s tale continues

Another game, another win for the Lyon King.

 

Alex Lyon was locked in from the jump – as seen on NHL network’s pregame show where he was staring down the camera. 

 

The Panthers’ goalie got the nod again tonight from Paul Maurice after he lost Game 1.

 

Lyon took the crease again for the tenth straight game and second of the playoffs. 

 

He was able to stop 34 of the 37 shots he faced, giving up a short handed goal, a power play goal and a late five-hole squeaker as the game was 6-2. 

 

It’s safe to say that Lyon’s job as the starter will live to see another day after two impressive starts in Boston. 

 

Games 3 & 4 will be at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise.