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Brad Marchand scored his fiftieth profession playoff purpose, David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk additionally scored, and the NHL-best Boston Bruins opened the playoffs by beating the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Monday night time.
Linus Ullmark, a Vezina Trophy candidate who led the league in wins (40), goals-against common (1.89) and save share (.938), stopped 31 pictures and Tyler Bertuzzi added two assists for Boston, which managed the sport even with captain Patrice Bergeron sitting out due to sickness.
Matthew Tkachuk scored for the Panthers and Alex Lyon made 26 saves however gave up Marchand’s purpose on a comparatively simple shot.
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Garnet Hathaway #21 of the Boston Bruins and Colin White #6 of the Florida Panthers shove one another in the course of the second interval of Recreation One of many First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the TD Backyard on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Wealthy Gagnon/Getty Photographs)
Recreation 2 is Wednesday night time in Boston.
The Bruins captured the Presidents’ Trophy, setting NHL information in factors (135) and wins (65). Florida, final season’s No. 1 seed, earned the Japanese Convention’s eighth and last playoff spot with a late-season push.
It’s the primary playoff matchup between a No. 1 seed and the Presidents’ winner from the earlier season for the reason that award was launched in 1985-86.
Pastrnak, a 61-goal scorer this season, was on the alternative facet on the precise wing from his traditional spot on the ability play. Bertuzzi collected the rebound of David Krejci’s shot within the slot and despatched a fast backhand move to Pastrnak, who snapped the puck into the online at 5:58 of the opening interval.
BRUINS SET NEW NHL RECORD AFTER BEATING FLYERS FOR 63RD WIN OF SEASON
Lyon gave up the smooth purpose early within the second when Marchand fired a seemingly innocent shot from the highest of the left circle. Lyon bent all the way down to catch it and it tipped off his glove, caroming into the online after hitting the within of the precise publish.
Quickly after, the TD Backyard crowd began serenading him with chants of “Lyon! Lyon!”
Florida lower the lead in half when Boston defenseman Dmitry Orlov despatched a blind, backhand move immediately out entrance, the place Tkachuk collected it and flipped the puck previous Ullmark at 6:34 of the second.
Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his purpose in opposition to Alex Lyon #34 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the second interval of Recreation One of many First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the TD Backyard on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Wealthy Gagnon/Getty Photographs)
DeBrusk restored the two-goal lead when he dove right into a pile and knocked the puck into the online out of a scramble close to the crease late within the second.
Because it did to so many opponents throughout its record-setting season, Boston bottled up Florida within the third.
HIGHLIGHT STOPS
BRUINS BREAK LONG-STANDING NHL RECORD IN ROUT OF SABRES
The 30-year-old Lyon, undrafted and basically a profession minor leaguer, made a pair of splendid stops after Boston took its 1-0 lead, coming throughout to make a left pad save on Bertuzzi’s redirect from the sting of the crease and sliding throughout to cease Trent Frederic’s probability. He robbed Frederic once more late within the second.
AILING CAPTAIN
Bergeron left the regular-season finale in Montreal within the first interval with an upper-body damage, then missed apply Saturday and Sunday.
“We now have not solely Bergeron, however a few guys which have been underneath the climate,” coach Jim Montgomery stated after the morning skate.
David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after he scored in opposition to the Florida Panthers in the course of the first interval of Recreation One of many First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the TD Backyard on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Wealthy Gagnon/Getty Photographs)
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NOTES: Krejci missed the final six video games of the common season with a lower-body damage. … Bruins D Derek Forbort returned to the lineup. He hadn’t performed since mid-March due to a lower-body damage. D Matt Grzelcyk was a wholesome scratch … Panthers C Aleksander Barkov was within the lineup after lacking Sunday’s apply. … Florida G Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina winner, was the backup. He hasn’t performed since March 27 due to a non-COVID sickness. … Florida led the league in pictures on purpose per sport with 36.82.
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