The Boston Bruins are poised to extend their lead in the Eastern Conference wild-card race as they face the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Florida, marking their final game before the Olympic break. The Bruins currently lead the Panthers by nine points in the standings, with Florida struggling to find their footing after suffering four consecutive losses.
Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers has openly acknowledged the team’s difficulties, stating that they are “in trouble” at this stage. The Bruins, despite a recent narrow loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling 6-5 shootout, remain in strong form with a record of 32-20-4. In that game, they surrendered a substantial 5-1 second-period lead to Tampa Bay, but they still boast a solid 7-1-2 record over their last ten games.
An important note for the matchup is the absence of Brad Marchand, who has been sidelined for Florida’s last two games due to an undisclosed injury. While he is currently day-to-day, his presence could greatly impact the Panthers’ performance.
The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on HBO Max and TNT. Fans can expect a high-stakes encounter as both teams look to solidify their standings. Here are key details about the upcoming game:
– When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
– Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Fla.
– TV, radio: HBO Max, TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
– Line: Florida -135. O/U: 6.0.
This season, the Bruins have scored a total of 189 goals while allowing 175, showcasing a strong offensive presence. The Panthers, on the other hand, have 165 goals scored but have allowed slightly more at 180. Special teams statistics further highlight the differences, with Boston boasting a power play success rate of 26.9% compared to Florida’s 18.4%.
In terms of individual player performances, David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 48 assists and 70 points, and he is on track for his fourth consecutive 100-point season. Moreover, Morgan Geekie has emerged as a key scorer for Boston, leading the team with 32 goals.
As the Bruins face off against a Panthers squad dealing with significant injuries, including forwards Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell, there remains potential for an exciting showdown. The Bruins aim to capitalize on Florida’s struggles and reinforce their position as contenders in the Eastern Conference.