Bruins Postgame: Bruins Answer The Bell; Beat Panthers 4-3

DOGHOUSE : It’s no secret that the Bruins need to be a heavier team. That’s why general manager Don Sweeney went out and acquired 6-foot-3, 214-pound defenseman Andrew Peeke and 6-foot-3, 234-pound winger and three-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Peeke has been somewhat as advertised, but unfortunately, Maroon likely won’t be in the lineup until at least next week. For now, there still seems to be a lack of that wolfpack mentality at times for the Bruins, especially when one of their own comes under attack.

That was the case when Panthers pest Sam Bennett basically rag-dolled Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm 5:11 into the second period.

Yes, Bruins captain Brad Marchand answered the bell just over five minutes later when he got into it with Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, but why is the 5-foot-9, 176-pound Marchand taking on the 6-foot-5, 206-pound Mikkola?

BANGER:  Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle and Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk led all skaters with eight hits each.

UNSUNG HERO : Bruins captain Brad Marchand, winger David Pastrnak, and defenseman Charlie McAvoy get the shared award here. Both did their best to lead and put their team on their backs, which is exactly what this sputtering Bruins team needed. The captain backed up his words after practice on Monday and was a factor in almost every one of the 23 shifts over 20:56 that he took. He finished with an assist, one shot, and four hits, and his forechecking was a major factor in Pastrnak’s goal that tied the game at two with 4:01 left in the second period.

That goal for Pastrnak gave him 45 lamplighters on the season and helped him become the first player since Adam Oates in 1992-93 and 1993-94 to post two straight 100-point seasons. Pastrnak also assisted on Zacha’s game-winning goal and finished with four shots and one blocked shot in 22 shifts of 22:40 TOI.

McAvoy had one of his best games this season as he tied the game at one 17:43 into the first period and also assisted on Pastrnak’s goal. McAvoy also had two shots, six hits, and three blocked shots in 27 shifts over 27:12.

NEXT UP: The Bruins head north up Alligator Alley and continue their six-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the tail end of a back-to-back on Wednesday night. They then head to Washington D.C., to play the Capitals on Saturday night.

Boston Bruins Lineup

Forwards

Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk

Danton Heinen – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak

Jakub Lauko – Morgan Geekie – Trent Frederic

John Beecher – Jesper Boqvist – Justin Brazeau

Defensemen

Matt Grzelcyk – Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo

Parker Wotherspoon – Andrew Peeke

Goalies

Jeremy Swayman

Linus Ullmark