3 Boston Bruins' on the hot-seat entering pivotal Game 3 against the Florida Panthers
Some Boston Bruins should be feeling the pressure ahead of pivotal Game 3 against the Florida Panthers Friday night.
After a 6-1 loss, or beatdown, at the hands of the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of their second-round series Wednesday night, the Boston Bruins return home for Game 3 Friday night at the TD Garden. Boston won Game 1, 5-1, so Game 3 will be a pivotal momentum game in the series that has now turned into a best-of-five-series.
The fact the Bruins have made it this far without some of their top players standing out is rather stunning. A big reason why they are where they are is because of goaltender Jeremy Swayman and his play. There has been a lack of production or impact from players on the roster not named Jeremy Swayman who need to step up if the Black and Gold are going to win three more games against Florida starting Friday night. Here are three Bruins’ on the hot seat ahead of Game 3.
Pavel Zacha
One player that has had trouble in multiple areas this postseason, it’s Pavel Zacha. Like Charlie Coyle, John Beecher, Trent Frederic, Jesper Boqvist, or anyone else who has had to take a faceoff, the end result hasn’t been good. Zacha has won just 40% of his draws and that is a number that certainly needs to go up.
He did pick up an assist on Coyle's first period goal in Game 2 with a pass across the front of the net and he has five assists in nine games, but he is going on Year 2 in Boston without finding the back of the net in the playoffs. Yes, there is certainly more pressure on him now that Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci have retired, but this is turning into another playoff run where he has been rather non-existent. That needs to change beginning in Game 3.
Charlie McAvoy
I mean, he has to be hurt and playing through an injury, right? That’s the only explanation that can explain the way Charlie McAvoy has looked so far in the playoffs. Seriously, if he’s not dealing with an injury or even an illness, then his play has been very concerning.
Through nine games, he is a minus-2 and it feels like that it could be and maybe should be higher. He’s turned the puck over many times, his passes are sometimes off, his body has taken a pounding and he is looking to pass a lot more than he is getting pucks to the net. All of this has led to a head-scratching postseason run so far. He if isn’t better in all facets of his game, then the Bruins are in big trouble.
Jim Montgomery
Ok, so yes, Montgomery doesn’t lace up the skates and play nearly 20 minutes a night, but he has the say as to who does and some lineup changes must be made. Remember back to Game 5 against the Maple Leafs? Putting Swayman back in goal is a no-brainer, but there needs to be a bit of a shake-up in the bottom six and on the blue line.
As I wrote yesterday, Jakub Lauko should be in the lineup just for an energy aspect as when he plays, he’s good on the forecheck, causes pressure on the opposing team's defense, and plays a good 200-foot game. On defense, Kevin Shattenkirk has been very steady in the playoffs and brings a presence on the power play that could get that unit going. Derek Forbort, who missed over two months following surgery, played well, but he doesn’t give you what Shattenkirk does.
Regardless of who is or isn’t in the lineup, the Bruins face a pivotal Game 3 Friday night at home as the winner of the game will take a huge 2-1 series lead and move that much closer to a trip to the Eastern Conference Final.
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