Boston Bruins Game 5: Season Hangs By A Thread

BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: Ryan Donato #17 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: Ryan Donato #17 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

How did it come to this Bruins fans? Following the jubilation of winning Game 7 against Toronto and Game 1 in Tampa, the B’s have fallen flat on their faces.

Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand is an exceptional hockey player but his antics are getting tiresome. I want to support the Bruins in every way possible but there’s only so many times you can defend a guy. Licking people is disgusting and I have to agree that it is up there with spitting at someone. There’s no place for it in the game and the league have rightfully stepped in.

The weird thing is that Marchand has had an exceptional series and doesn’t need to partake in the extra-curricular activities.

Torey Krug

The Boston Bruins will be without one of their key defensive pieces. Torey Krug left Game 4 with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He won’t be making another appearance in the black and gold this season.

Boston will slot Nick Holden into the lineup, whilst bolstering their defence in doing so, they sacrifice Krug’s offensive capabilities.

Season On The Line

3-1 down in the series doesn’t look promising let’s be honest. The Bruins must win three on the bounce but can take some solace in the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning have done exactly that. Given that the Bruins has fared better at Amalie Arena in this series so far there has to be some hope.

The mixing up of the lines down the order worries me. Bring the likes of Gionta into the fold reeked a little of desperation to me. Cassidy opting to go for a more familiar lineup in the hope of surviving a little longer.

Lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice BergeronDavid Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk-David KrejciRick Nash

Danton HeinenRiley NashDavid Backes

Tim SchallerSean KuralyNoel Acciari

Zdeno CharaCharlie McAvoy

Matt GrzelcykKevan Miller

Nick Holden-Adam McQuaid

Rask

Prediction

The Boston Bruins find a way to win and give their faithful fanbase a reason to believe. 5-3 Bruins.