Sunrise, FL—–The atmosphere in Florida was electric as the national anthem echoed through the sold-out arena. Fans passionately sang along, their energy filling the venue with palpable excitement.
Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman soaked in the fervor of the crowd, exuding confidence as he surveyed the stands. It seemed as though he had a premonition of his stellar performance that would silence the opposing fans for the rest of the game.
And indeed, that’s precisely what unfolded.
Swayman’s exceptional postseason run continued as he blocked 38 shots, while Brandon Carlo, just hours after welcoming his newborn son into the world, found the back of the net to help the Bruins secure a commanding 5-1 victory over the Panthers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Monday night.
“I’m incredibly proud of the resilience we showed out there,” Swayman remarked. “Our physicality, mental fortitude, everything was firing on all cylinders. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Morgan Geekie, Mason Lohrei, Justin Brazeau, and Jake DeBrusk also poured in goals for Boston, extending their unbeaten streak against the Panthers to 5-0-0 this season. Pavel Zacha provided two assists as the Bruins mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals in the final 7:08 of the second period to overturn a 1-0 deficit and seize control of the game.
Swayman, who has been between the pipes for all five of Boston’s playoff victories, delivered another outstanding performance, reminiscent of his heroics against Toronto in the first round. His flawless display included shutting down all seven of Florida’s power-play opportunities, solidifying his status as the standout goaltender of the postseason thus far.
With a league-leading 210 saves and an impressive goals-against average of 1.42 across seven playoff appearances, Swayman’s impact on the Bruins’ success cannot be overstated.
Head coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged the team’s defensive lapses but credited Swayman for ensuring a comfortable victory. Matthew Tkachuk scored the lone goal for Florida, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for the Panthers, who faced their first game in a week.
Game 2 is set to take place in Sunrise on Wednesday night, with the Panthers eager to rectify their shortcomings and mount a comeback.
Despite their regular-season dominance, this matchup marked a departure from their previous tightly contested encounters. Once Boston gained the lead, they displayed airtight defense, effectively shutting down Florida’s offensive efforts.
For Carlo, the game held extra significance as he celebrated the birth of his son, Crew, earlier in the day. His late goal, scored with just 21 seconds remaining in the second period, further fueled Boston’s momentum, propelling them to a commanding lead.
Brazeau’s goal in the third period and DeBrusk’s empty-netter sealed the victory for the Bruins, capping off a memorable night for the team and their dedicated fans.
