For the remainder of the season, I will be publishing individual game previews and recaps.

Bruins Scope: The Bruins come into this game winners of 7 of their last 10. However the B’s have a big problem. Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy are both currently injured. Torey Krug another top 4 defenseman is questionable. McAvoy although not as good as Matthew Barzal or Brock Boeser will likely finish 3rd in Rookie of the Year award voting, while the veteran Chara leads the team. Not to mention Patrice Bergeron will be out.

What this means: This means that the Panthers have a big chance. They are up aganist Anton Khoudobin. Without Bergeron and Chara, Boston’s defense isn’t solid. The Panthers need to use their offense and score a lot of goals.

Panthers Scope: Maxim Mamin is back into the lineup. Michael Haley will be sitting for only the second time this year. Mamin takes Haley’s spot on the fourth line. The Panthers are 13-1-2 with the Russian in the lineup. The 23 year old could help spark offense with Colton Sceviour on the fourth line and he is hard hitting too. This is a must win game for the Panthers who ended a 9 game point streak Monday with a 5-3 loss to Ottawa. After New Jersey’s thumping of Vegas, the Panthers are 4 points behind the 2nd wildcard Blue Jackets but still have 3 games in hand.

Other Key Matchups

Columbus @ Philadelphia   Who We Need To Win: Philadelphia

 

Game Notes: Frank Vatrano plays his 1st game aganist the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent and traded him.

 

Bruins Lines

Brad Marchand-Riley Nash-David Pastranak
Danton Heinen-David Krejci-Rick Nash
Tommy Wingels-David Backes-Brian Gionta
Tim Schaller-Sean Kurlay-Noah Acciari
Nick Holden-Kevan Miller
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Matt Grzelcyk-Brandon Carlo
Anton Khoudobin
Tuukka Rask

Panthers Lines

Evengii Dadonov-Aleksander Barkov-Nick Bjugstad
Jonathan Huberdeau-Vincent Trocheck-Frank Vatrano
Jamie McGinn-Jared McCann-Denis Malgin
Maxim Mamin-Derek Mackenzie-Colton Sceviour
Keith Yandle-Aaron Ekblad
Michael Matheson- Mark Pysyk
Mackenzie Weegar-Alex Petrovic
James Reimer
Roberto Luongo

Matchups: 1st Line- Even  2nd Line- Even  3rd Line- Boston  4th Line- Boston  1st Pair- Florida  2nd Pair- Florida 3rd Pair- Even Goalie- Even

Goalies

Anton Khoudobin- 26 GP  15-5-4   2.48 GAA     .918 SVPCT  (vs. FLA   4 GP  3-1-0  .938 SVPCT   2.25 GAA    1 SO   9 GA)

James Reimer- 36 GP 16-13-5   3.16 GAA    .907 SVPCT   (vs. BOS  19 GP  7-8-3  .927 SVPCT   2.47 GAA    0 SO    42 GA)

Game 1/4 Season Series

Players to Watch:

Boston- Brad Marchand

Florida- Aleksander Barkov