In Game 2 of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers, things took an unexpected turn. The Bruins, who had a 1-0 series lead, found themselves trailing 6-1 with just over seven minutes left in the third period. The tension escalated when top winger David Pastrnak and Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk engaged in a fight. This was a surprising turn of events, as physical altercations are not typically seen between these two skilled teams.
Despite the unexpected fight, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery seemed to be supportive of Pastrnak’s decision to drop the gloves with Tkachuk. Cameras showed Montgomery giving what appeared to be a nod of approval for Pastrnak to engage in the scuffle. While Montgomery denied explicitly giving permission, he expressed pride in Pastrnak for showing his competitive spirit. However, Montgomery did express his disappointment in the extra hits Tkachuk landed on Pastrnak when he was down on the ice.
On the other side, Florida coach Paul Maurice viewed the fight between Tkachuk and Pastrnak in a positive light, referring to it as “awesome.” Despite both players receiving penalties and a game misconduct, the fight seemed to add an element of intensity to the game. Pastrnak’s candid admission that “the game was over” further emphasized the physical and emotional toll of the matchup.
For the Boston Bruins, Game 2 was a tough pill to swallow. They suffered their most lopsided loss of the postseason, with the Panthers dominating play after an initial 1-0 lead by the Bruins. The decision to pull goaltender Jeremy Swayman early in the third period was a significant moment in the game. Swayman, who had been stellar throughout the playoffs, faced a heavy workload due to playing in six of the Bruins’ previous seven games. This decision marked a departure from the Bruins’ typical strategy of not announcing a starting goaltender before games in the postseason.
As the series moves to Game 3 in Boston, there are lingering questions about the Bruins’ goaltending situation and overall performance. Will Montgomery stick with the tradition of not announcing a starting goaltender, or will there be a shift in strategy following the disappointing Game 2 loss? The physicality and intensity of Game 2 have set the stage for a dramatic continuation of the series, with both teams seeking to gain the upper hand in this hard-fought playoff matchup.
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