Bruins-Panthers Game 1 played out just the way fans expected, even thought Patrice Bergeron wasn’t in the lineup.
To be sure, the Bruins were missing their captain on the ice. His presence both sets the tone and dictates the team’s flow. And his ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone has been an integral part of the success of the Bruins in the years he’s played on the team. Because the NHL is so persnickety about reporting injuries, it’s still not clear if Bergeron is out because of a lingering injury or if he’s succumbed to the recent bug that’s been plaguing the Bruins locker room.
Either way, the B’s were able to notch a W without their captain. David Pastrnak scored in the first en route to a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of their series in the opening round of the NHL Playoffs. And it was a game where role players stepped up. As the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont posted on Twitter, Charlie McAvoy had a game-high 8 hits, and Dmitry Orlov led the team with 5 shots on net in 9 attempts. An encouraging start to the series and good sign early on in the team’s Cup run.
Bruins-Panthers Game 1: No Bergeron, No Problem
I rounded up some highlights from the game below, just as I did for the Celtics in Game 1 of their opening series in the NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. You can check those out here. You’ll find both teams in my upcoming edition of the 12-Inch Poll, too. It’s exciting to have both the Bruins and Celtics in the playoffs this spring. And it’s even more exciting to think that both teams have a really good shot at winning it all. I’ll take either one winning, but I’d prefer both!