The Boston Bruins (43-24-8) are down in Florida to kick off their last multi-game road trip of the season. They will play a newer rival in the Florida Panthers (36-35-3) at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.
The Bruins have won their last four games and have picked up points in their last seven road games (4-0-3). They finished March with a 10-3-3 record.
Two members of the Bruins’ second line, Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson, are on active point streaks. Zacha has 9 points in the last five games (5-4–9), and Arvidsson has 9 points (5-4–9) in the last four games.
The Panthers are coming off a dominant 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, but unlike recent years, they are well out of the playoff picture and sit last in the Atlantic Division. They are also injured, missing 11 regulars, and have recalled many from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).
If you are looking for Brad Marchand, you will not find him. He is one of the Panthers players out for the year with an injury.
Even though they are well outside of the playoffs, the Panthers have won both matchups against the Bruins this season.
The Panthers are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games; they went 6-9-0 in March. Their penalty kill sits in the top five as well.
Bruins Morning Skate Notes
There was a morning skate at 11:30 AM from the Panthers’ practice rink in Fort Lauderdale.
UPDATE: Marco Sturm announced that the only lineup change is that Jeremy Swayman will start in goal.
Expected Bruins Lines
Forwards
Marat Khusnutdinov – Fraser Minten – David Pastrnak
Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
Lukas Reichel – Elias Lindholm – Morgan Geekie
Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic
Defensemen
Jonathan Aspirot – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Henri Jokiharju
Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Peeke
Source: Last game
Starting Goalie
Jeremy Swayman (30-15-4, 2.73 GAA, .908 SV%)
Source: Confirmed
Expected Panthers Lines
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Mackie Samoskevich – Eetu Luostarinen – AJ Greer
Noah Gregor – Tomas Nosek – Jesper Boqvist
Nolan Foote – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling – Seth Jones
Donovan Sebrango – Mike Benning
Tobias Bjornfot – Mikulas Hovorka
Source: Projected
Starting Goalie
Sergei Bobrovsky (26-21-1, 3.00 GAA, .879 SV%)
Source: Confirmed
Special Teams
Bruins
Power play: 24.0% (8th)
Penalty kill: 76.3% (27th)
Panthers
Power play: 19.8% (20th)
Penalty kill: 81.9% (4th)
Season Series
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, April 4: Bruins @ Lightning, 5:00 PM
Sunday, April 5: Bruins @ Flyers, 3:30 PM
Tuesday, April 7: Bruins @ Hurricanes, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 11: Lightning @ Bruins, 12:30 PM
Sunday, April 12: Bruins @ Blue Jackets, 6:00 PM
How To Watch
7:00 PM ET
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
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