The Florida Panthers face the Boston Bruins in Game One of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Panthers went 42-32-8 in the regular season and secured the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy with a 65-12-5 record which was not only the best in the NHL but the best in league history. The Panthers are looking to steal a game on the road while the Bruins look to start the First Round with a statement and Game One looks to be a good one.
The Panthers secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference behind an offense that averaged 3.51 goals per game this season. Matthew Tkachuk scored 40 goals and 69 assists while Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe added 65 goals and 86 assists to the top two lines but the entire offense has stepped up. Sam Reinhart, Eetu Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell have combined for 60 goals and 83 assists while defensemen Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling have added 29 goals and 85 assists from the point to open up the offense.
The offense carried the Panthers but the defense almost cost them a playoff spot, allowing 3.32 goals per game including six goals in the final game of the season. Montour and Forsling have combined for 8.1 defensive point shares but the rest of the unit has struggled, allowing opponents to find open shots on the net at will. the bright spot has been the play of goaltender Ale x Lyon who has a .912 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average on 488 shots with 3.7 goals saved above average.