Possible Lineup Changes For Game 3?
The Boston Bruins gave possibly their worst performance of the year at maybe the worst possible time. For the majority of the game, the Bruins had trouble moving the puck up the ice. They had 15 turnovers and gave up six goals to a Panthers team they had previously held to just one the game prior. The outcome was a 6-3 Panthers victory, which knotted the series at one game apiece heading into Game 3.
During his press conference, Jim Montgomery hinted that Game 3’s starting lineup could look different when asked whether he would be willing to make changes.
Montgomery said, “It gives me pause to think about changes everywhere.”
Now that the series is moving to Florida for Games 3 and 4, a loss on Friday night would undoubtedly give the Panthers some optimism that they might be able to defeat the best regular-season team in NHL history when it matters the most. So it looks like Montgomery is willing to pull out all the stops to ensure that won’t be the case.
Latest on Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron, the heart and soul of the Boston Bruins, has been a big loss for the Bruins to begin the playoffs. He has missed two straight games and a total of eight consecutive periods of hockey, and it was confirmed by coach Montgomery the absence was due to an injury rather than an illness.
And according to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic, it remains to be seen if Bergeron will even make the trip to Florida after looking to be in pain during yesterday’s skating session.
Coach Montgomery said: “I haven’t talked to medical and athletic trainers about where he’s at as far as coming with us on the trip or not.”
There is no timetable for Bergeron’s return as of Thursday, so we’ll have to wait and see as we get closer to game time on Friday. Game 3 of the series will be played in Sunrise, Florida, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Game 4 will be played there on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
