Four Takeaways From The Bruins’ 5-1 Game 1 Win Over The Panthers

07/05/2024

Riding off the high of Saturday’s Game 7 win, the Boston Bruins stormed into Amerant Bank Arena Monday night and claimed a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the second round.

Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, Brandon Carlo, Justin Brazeau and Jake DeBrusk all scored for the Bruins while Jeremy Swayman held it down in net with 38 saves to secure the 1-0 series lead.

Four takeaways from the victory, below:

A Timely Timeout From Jim Montgomery

The Bruins entered the third period with a 3-1 lead and the Panthers, expectedly, made a push. Florida unloaded 11 shots on goal within the opening five minutes of the frame. Boston couldn’t get it out of the zone as Swayman made stop after stop.

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery saw enough. His team needed to regroup. He called a timeout.

“I just wanted us to relax, be calm, have poise and execute,” Montgomery said to the media Monday. “I could tell players were hurried, a little frantic with the puck.”

The second-year bench boss gathered his players, slowed things down and reminded them of the way they need to play to close out the contest.

four takeaways from the bruins’ 5-1 game 1 win over the panthers

May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Justin Brazeau (55) scores against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

“He has such a great sense of game management, and I think after that timeout you could tell the momentum shifted,” Swayman said to the media Monday. “I had no doubt in my mind the guys were going to respond the right way.”

That they did. Brazeau exploded into the offensive zone after picking up a wall pass from James van Riemsdyk. The forward used his size and strength to gain inside ice while darting to the net, then pulled the puck to his backhand and popped it past Sergei Bobrovsky. Brazeau’s first-career playoff goal cushioned Boston’s lead, 4-1, at 7:13 of the third.

The Bruins didn’t let Florida’s burst break them, and instead regained control of the game.

“I think at the right time he made that timeout,” Brandon Carlo said Monday of Montgomery. “Told us to just stay composed, calm down a little bit and that was huge for us. He believes in us a lot, and at times it’s just about hearing it and then believing in ourselves and going out there and doing it.”

Brandon Carlo Scores For Newborn Son

Scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is special no matter the circumstance, but Carlo’s second-period tally to make it 3-1 held a little extra weight.

Carlo just barely made it for puck drop after his wife, Mayson, went into labor with the couples’ second child – and first son – shortly after Game 7 Saturday. Crew was born around 3:00 a.m. Monday morning, Carlo said. The veteran defenseman then got on a plane at 2:00 p.m. to suit up for Game 1.

“Definitely a 24 hours that I won’t forget,” Carlo said. “We sped it up as fast as we could. We were flipping her around, putting her upside down, whatever we could do to get that baby out of there…To see his face and to have a healthy wife and a healthy baby, I couldn’t be more happy.”

Carlo brought that adrenaline right into his play, and netted his second goal of the postseason at 19:39 of the middle frame. Trent Frederic hustled to beat Gustav Forsling to the puck and chipped it to Charlie Coyle who found Carlo alone on the right side. Carlo’s wrister wired in, and David Pastnrak was there to collect the puck for Crew’s keepsake.

“When you have incredible experiences in life, like the birth of a child, it’s amazing the energy it gives you,” Montgomery said. “That’s why I knew when he got here we were going to put him in the lineup.”

Jeremy Swayman Shines, Again

Swayman got the start in Game 1 because he earned it. The goaltender carried the Bruins through their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has been the backbone of their playoff run thus far. Nothing changed Monday.

Swayman’s 38 saves showcased the composure, agility and focus that he’s had through now seven postseason games. With a 1.42 goals against average and .955 save percentage, Boston has no choice but to stick with the 25 year old who is playing some of the best hockey of his career.

“His battle level inspires and gives our bench a lot of energy,” Montgomery said.

May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the third period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Despite chaos in the crease and an especially chippy Panthers team, Swayman was never phased. Chuckling through acrobatic stops and grinning as scrums broke out in front of him, Swayman’s unruffled mindset has made all the difference for the Bruins.

“It seems like you can never rattle the guy. He’s always smiling, always singing along to songs,” Mason Lohrei said Monday to the media. “It’s relaxing, at least for me. You kind of see it and remember it’s just a game. He can go out there and play as well as he does and go and have fun, kind of lets you do the same.”

Mason Lohrei Continues To Be A Difference Maker

After the Bruins’ Game 7 win, Montgomery said he hoped this playoffs was Lohrei’s “coming out party.” Lohrei entered the lineup for Game 3 of the first round and worked for his keep on the first defensive pair with Charlie McAvoy. His confidence and play has kept growing since.

The 23-year-old rookie gave Boston its first lead of the night at 16:17 of the second period after Morgan Geekie tied things 1-1 just over three minutes prior. Parker Wotherspoon dumped the puck down to Lohrei from the point. At a sharp, low angle with not much to shoot at, Lohrei sniped it top shelf for his first-career postseason goal and the 2-1 advantage.

“Had some space, got my head up, ‘Pasta’ was on the backdoor and I think that kind of made the goalie go down a little, so I just took that space up top,” Lohrei said.

Lohrei – who has always been known for his offensive flair – has rounded his game out the past month and been a reliable, dynamic option for the Bruins on the backend. Through 16:05 of total ice time Monday, Lohrei registered a goal, was plus-2, had two shots and four hits.

“His poise with the puck and willingness to hang onto it to find a better play is amazing,” Montgomery said of Lohrei’s goal. “It gives confidence to the team. His ability to do that in big moments…He has that ability as a defenseman to make that kind of play.”