Of their 100-year historical past, it’s solely pure that the Boston Bruins develop some sturdy rivalries over the many years. When interested by their rivals, the primary two groups that come to thoughts are all the time the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs, two franchises that Boston has a protracted historical past with.
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Prior to now few seasons, a brand new rivalry has developed between the Bruins and the Florida Panthers. They’ve bounced Boston out of the playoffs the previous two seasons. Each postseason sequence in addition to their common season matchups have cemented the truth that these two groups don’t like one another. Because of this, followers have been capable of witness some critically electrical matches.
Because the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers are a really proficient group with an amazing ahead lineup, a strong defensive core, and a rejuvenated Sergei Bobrovsky holding down the online. As fellow members of the Atlantic Division, the chances are excessive that if the Bruins need to go far within the postseason, they’ll as soon as once more face off in opposition to Florida. If the group’s efficiency within the season opener confirmed something, it’s that it is going to be a troublesome problem for the present roster to defeat them.
Latest Matchups with Florida
Final season, the Bruins gained all 4 of their common season matchups in opposition to the Panthers. This got here after Florida defeated them in seven video games within the first spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending their record-breaking 2022-23 season a lot sooner than anticipated. The 2023-24 matchups have been a number of the group’s greatest video games because the roster clearly felt that they had one thing to show.
In fact, when it mattered most within the postseason, the Bruins have been as soon as once more unable to provide you with the win, shedding in six video games to the Panthers. After a terrific Sport 1, it was just about straight downhill from there. Positive, there have been some actually unhealthy calls from the referees, however on the finish of the day, Florida was the higher group. Boston’s incapability to attain and irresponsibility in their very own zone was fully uncovered. There was not a lot head coach Jim Montgomery may do to assist push the group to a sequence win.
Boston’s file with the Panthers the previous few seasons is a microcosm of what’s been happening with this group throughout that point, which is a superb common season group that may’t get it performed when it issues most. The previous two seasons, the Bruins took most abruptly with how good they have been, remaining aggressive whereas many thought their window was shut. However, by the point playoffs rolled round, the problems anticipated with the roster have been uncovered in full drive.
Bruins’ Opening Night time Mishap
To rub salt within the wound of final season’s postseason exit, the Bruins opened the 2024-25 season in Dawn, Florida, being within the constructing whereas the group that eradicated them celebrated their Stanley Cup and raised their championship banner. Sadly, it didn’t present the motivation one would hope they usually misplaced to the champions, 6-4.
The sport was not an amazing exhibiting from Joonas Korpisalo within the internet, who stayed in your entire recreation. He stopped 29 pictures, and whereas he had some good saves, it didn’t make up for a number of the stinkers he let in, significantly within the first interval when the Panthers went up 4-1. However, after all, the blame doesn’t fully lay with him because the Bruins’ defensive points from the playoffs have been as soon as once more on full show. The group didn’t present up able to play, wanting gradual, significantly within the first 10 minutes, and Florida took benefit of that, going up early and placing the sport out of attain.
The Panthers know the Bruins properly at this level. They know methods to execute, and can benefit from groups in the event that they’re not able to go when the puck drops. If Boston needs any shot on the Stanley Cup this season, they must defeat Florida, and opening night time confirmed that they haven’t gotten that found out fairly but. Whereas the Bruins put up 4 objectives, a number of the identical points from the postseason have been nonetheless prevalent. Probably the most urgent of them is their lack of self-discipline in their very own zone. Because the outdated adage goes, protection wins championships, and the group nonetheless must determine that out.
Clearly, it’s nonetheless extremely early. There’s a very long time between now and April 2025, and a lot can occur within the coming months. However given the final two postseasons, the Panthers have gotten a Factor for the Bruins, a monkey on their again they’ll should defeat if they’re to go far this season, presumably.
Bruins Figuring Issues Out
There are some positives from the Bruins’ first few video games of the season. They’re scoring, one thing they clearly couldn’t do within the playoffs final season. They’re producing offense from the blue line, an space they’ve struggled with for a number of seasons now (principally since Torey Krug left). Via the primary three video games of the season, that they had seven totally different goal-scorers. Jeremy Swayman seemed good in internet in opposition to the Canadiens and the Los Angeles Kings, regardless of lacking the preseason along with his contract holdout.
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There are all the time rising pains with the beginning of a brand new season, however the Bruins are figuring them out. There’s loads to be excited for this season, together with Matthew Poitras’ return to the ice and Elias Lindholm’s nice efficiency in Boston to date by the primary couple of video games.
Additionally quickly approaching on the horizon, is their second assembly with the Panthers on Oct. 14. Will probably be one other probability to match up in opposition to considered one of their present largest rivals, and a possibility to indicate that they’ll defeat the reigning champions. Florida could have been the higher group final season, nevertheless it’s now 2024-25, and the Bruins are able to beating them. They only have to begin getting all of it collectively.
