After narrowly avoiding a repeat of blowing a 3-1 series lead by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins are set to face the Florida Panthers, who eliminated them in the first round of the 2023 playoffs and reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, in the Eastern Conference second-round series starting in Florida.
The Boston Bruins just dodged a bullet. They managed to not blow a 3-1 series lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, pulling off a 2-1 victory in overtime. Next up? They’re facing the Florida Panthers. Yeah, the same team that knocked them out in the first round of the 2023 playoffs after winning three straight elimination games.
The Eastern Conference’s second-round series is kicking off in Florida this Monday at 8 p.m. Talk about a quick turnaround, huh?
Last season, the Panthers didn’t just beat the Bruins; they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Remember, the Bruins were the team setting NHL records left and right during the regular season. And then, bam, the Panthers happened.
Boston’s GM, Don Sweeney, had a chat with Joe Pohoryles from NHL.com. It was Sunday. He said, “It’s a [heck] of an opponent.” He’s not wrong. He talked about knowing each other’s strengths and how it’s all going to boil down to those tiny, crucial parts of the game. “Hopefully, we find a way to persevere this year,” he added. Fingers crossed, right?
Now, let’s talk about the Panthers. They made it to the second round by showing the Tampa Bay Lightning the door in just five games. That’s no small feat.
Last season’s comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Bruins? It did something to the Panthers. Gave them a boost, a belief in themselves. Matthew Tkachuk, a star winger for the Panthers, spilled the beans to Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. He said it showed they could take on anyone. “No matter who we played, no matter what building we’re in, no matter what happens here, we have a chance to win.” That kind of confidence? It’s gold. It brought the team closer, and they’re still riding that high.
