The NHL schedule-makers have granted the Bruins a fast do-over with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Now it’s as much as them what they do with it.
Lower than every week in the past the B’s went all the way down to south Florida and anticipated to precise some old skool revenge on the Panthers for transgressions from their sequence final 12 months, most notably Sam Bennett’s well-disguised sucker punch of Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk’s late punches in his combat with David Pastrnak.
However the Panthers didn’t interact, a minimum of not Tkachuk and Bennett, who added one other merchandise to the B’s IOU listing when he ran goalie Joonas Korpisalo late within the sport final Tuesday.
And irrespective of how chances are you’ll really feel about sure Panthers holding their gloves on, it turned out to be a sensible technique. It was clear early on that vengeance had clouded the Bruins’ minds and so they weren’t in the proper mind set to really play hockey. The Panthers got here at them in waves and the B’s couldn’t decelerate the push. By the top of 20 minutes, Florida was up 4-1 and so they cruised to a victory.
The B’s can not afford a repeat efficiency. They need to play with emotion, however harness it in a extra constructive method.
“We’ve to get again to enjoying hockey,” stated coach Jim Montgomery earlier than an optionally available observe on Sunday. “I find it irresistible that we’ve got emotion and so they’re a rival. However on the identical time, we’ve got to be disciplined. We’re taking too many penalties.”
Within the season opener, Trent Frederic went after the proficient agitator Tkachuk, taking an unsportsmanlike penalty within the first interval – Frederic stated Tkachuk supplied to combat him after which reneged – and later the 2 gamers went off for matching roughing penalties.
That a few of their point of interest gamers for Florida didn’t drop the gloves – A.J. Greer and Mark Kastelic did go at it – solely contributed to the B’s lack of focus.
“In the event that they don’t need to combat, there’s not a lot you are able to do about it,” stated Frederic. “That’s form of the bummer a part of it. It makes it extra irritating in that sense.”
Frederic and Tkachuk go means again. They each grew up within the tight-knit hockey group that has blossomed in St. Louis. They each have been drafted within the first spherical in 2016 – Tkachuk going sixth total to Calgary and Frederic going thirtieth to Boston – and have recognized one another and been buddies for so long as Frederic can keep in mind.
In the intervening time, the very best that you possibly can say about their relationship is that they’re frenemies.
“We certain have been (buddies). I grew up with him since I used to be in all probability 5. However yeah, it’s in all probability been totally different the final couple of years. However yeah, we’re household buddies,” stated Frederic.
“It’s enterprise. I don’t’ actually care. Perhaps when our careers are over, we are able to have a reconciliation. However proper now, I can’t stand him.”
Frederic realizes that his present antipathy towards his outdated chum can not boil over into taking dangerous penalties. In addition to the B’s penalty kill has been performing, too many penalties gradual any form of 5-on-5 momentum the B’s need to construct. Frederic stated Montgomery has a saying that goes one thing like “play with emotion, however don’t be emotional.”
“Which is true. It’s a must to play with emotion on this sport however not get too emotional,” stated Frederic. “It’s a 1 o’clock sport, must be a superb crowd. I feel it is going to be a enjoyable sport. I’m certain it is going to be chippy. We’ll see the way it goes.”
It’s not even been every week and the 2 groups are totally different than they have been within the season opener. The Panther’s rock within the center, Sasha Barkov, is out with an ankle harm and Tkachuk missed Saturday’s sport in Buffalo. The champs are additionally coming off back-to-back divisional losses to the Sabres and Senators.
The B’s, in the meantime, have injected Matt Poitras into the lineup and are coming off a pair of wins over Montreal and Los Angeles, flawed although they might have been.
“We simply need to exit and win and beat them on the scoresheet,” stated Frederic. “We haven’t carried out that in a bit of bit. I’m certain it is going to be a bodily sport and we’ll attempt to keep out of the field as a lot as we are able to.”
