{"id":440704,"date":"2024-05-06T10:02:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T14:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=440704"},"modified":"2024-05-06T10:02:42","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T14:02:42","slug":"bruins-vs-panthers-second-round-playoff-series-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/05\/06\/bruins-vs-panthers-second-round-playoff-series-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruins vs Panthers Second Round Playoff Series Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs get going, we are here at Last Word to give you all you need to know on the upcoming action. This time around it is a rivalry based purely on recent Eastern Conference supremacy, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/panthers\/\" target=\"_self\">Florida Panthers<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/bruins\/\" target=\"_self\">Boston Bruins<\/a>. According to betting prognosticators, it appears the Panthers are favourites. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/betting\/go\/bet365\" target=\"_self\">Bet365<\/a> has them at -210 to win the series. This line was current prediction odds for the Boston and Florida series at the time of publication. So, as a heads up, please check for the latest odds before locking in your pick.<\/p>\n<h2>To Begin the Boston and Florida Series Outcome Prediction a Review of the Season Series<\/h2>\n<p>One thing to consider looking back on the season series between the two clubs, is the Bruins\u2019 consistency. Yes, the Panthers had various personnel issues on the blueline to start the season, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/montobr01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Montour<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/ekblaaa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Ekblad<\/a> missed time. But that should do nothing to takeaway from the fact the Bruins were 4-0 in the season series. This included two great playoff preview type matchups since late March. Like the series against the Leafs, the Bruins just seem to find ways to win. Two of the regular season matchups against the Panthers went to overtime. If the regular season series is any indication, this has all the makings of a great series.<\/p>\n<h3>Bruins Key to Victory<\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t deviate from the gameplan, and, oh yeah, have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pastrda01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Pastrnak<\/a> step up. Head Coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/montgji01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Montgomery<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/05\/05\/first-round-series-review-of-the-boston-bruins-and-toronto-maple-leafs\/\" target=\"_self\">put the bug into Pastrnak\u2019s ear<\/a> late in the series, and it seemed to work. He went on to score the series cliching goal in overtime in game seven. Therefore, the first key to Boston victory, is having Pastrnak produce. The next important part is status quo in net. All season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/swaymje01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremy Swayman<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/u\/ullmali01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Linus Ullmark<\/a> would rotate. However, given the variable of occasional extra rest in the playoffs, sometimes goalies might be good to go back-to-back. Combined with the fact, Swayman was just so dominate against the Leafs, it was hard not to go with him. He ended up playing six of the seven games, including all four victories. In the Panthers season series, Ullmark was the more impressive of the two with a 3-0 record, 1.62 GAA and a .947 SV%.<\/p>\n<h3>Panthers Key to Victory<\/h3>\n<p>The Panthers key to victory are be the Stanley Cup contenders they are, and be the team that made the finals last year. They are a physical team, built for playoff hockey. And they have the elite players to back it up. In goal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bobrose01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> is near on his form as a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. He had a .915 SV% and 2.37 GAA in 58 regular season games. Their defence is very strong, between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/forslgu02.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gustav Forsling<\/a>, Ekblad, and even someone like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/ekmanol01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> on the third pairing, they are extremely stingy as a group. For Florida, if their best players are the best players in the series, they should win. This means <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lundean01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anton Lundell<\/a> continuing to fill-in admirably without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/bennesa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Bennett<\/a>, who\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/05\/05\/florida-panthers-will-miss-star-centre-for-game-1-against-bruins\/\" target=\"_self\">ruled out of game one tonight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"s4\"><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Our Final Prediction Between Florida and Boston<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"s4\"><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">At the end of the day, Florida seems too deep, and should move on to the 2024 Eastern Conference finals. If Boston can continue to play their patient style, and take the opportunities when they come, they can prevail. The problem with that, is this is the playoffs, and everyone leaves it all out on the ice. The Panther gamebreakers, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/barkoal01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aleksander Barkov<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tkachma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-05-06_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matthew Tkachuk<\/a> will not be stopped. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"s4\"><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Prediction: <\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Panthers<\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\"> take the series 4-<\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">1<\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"s4\"><span class=\"s6\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Universal Responsible Gambling Disclaimer:<\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><span class=\"s6\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"s4\"><span class=\"s5\"><span class=\"bumpedFont15\">Main photo: Kim Klement Neitzel &#8211; USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs get going, we are here at Last Word to give you all you need to know on the upcoming action. This time around it is a rivalry based purely on recent Eastern Conference supremacy, the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins. According to betting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4222,"featured_media":440705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5,4547,4548,4524],"tags":[7903,90,106],"class_list":["post-440704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-panthers","category-bruins","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-predictions","tag-2024-stanley-cup-playoffs","tag-boston-bruins","tag-florida-panthers"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=440704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440704\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/440705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}