Bruins will have to get better, tougher if they want to beat the Panthers

It’s about time.

During Jim Montgomery’s tenure behind the bench, the Bruins have been a dominant force in the regular season. The team rewrote the history books in 2022-23, setting new single-season records for points (135) and wins (65). The Bruins were the odds-on favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The excitement rivaled the team’s postseason success in 2011, 2013 and 2019.

It all meant absolutely nothing after a first-round loss to the Florida Panthers.

Similar to last year, the Bruins enjoyed another successful regular season en route to another playoff matchup against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Many believed it would be an easy victory for Boston, but the Maple Leafs erased a 3-1 series deficit to force Game 7. Fans didn’t seem encouraged by Boston’s chances to win Saturday night at TD Garden.

More: In sports-passionate New England, Joe McDonald asks: Which team is No. 1?

Montgomery’s coaching ability in the playoffs came into question, along with the lack of point production by David Pastrnak. Had the Bruins lost to the Maple Leafs, another coaching change should have been in the works. Fortunately for Montgomery and the Bruins, they silenced the critics with an impressive 2-1 overtime win with Pastrnak scoring the game-winning goal. Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman was outstanding the entire series as he helped the Bruins advance to the second round and a rematch against the Panthers.

His 4-2 record, along with a 1.49 goals-against average and .950 save percentage, save the day against the Maple Leafs. In fact, he became only the second goalie in Bruins history to record a save percentage higher than .950 (minimum six games played), joining Tim Thomas, who posted a .967 SP during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Maybe that’s a good omen for the Bruins.

Overall, the Bruins have enjoyed success because of their goaltending tandem of Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Moving forward in the postseason, it should be Swayman’s net until he loses it.

The Bruins will need a lot more than solid goaltending to beat the Panthers.

Boston was built to win in 2011. The Bruins could roll four lines against any opponent, while Boston’s defense was nearly unbreakable. Thomas produced one of the greatest overall goaltending performances in history en route to a Stanley Cup win. In 2013, injuries and bad puck luck proved crucial during Boston’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup final. In 2019, the Bruins should have won, but Brad Marchand’s decision to leave the ice with only seconds remaining in the first period led to the St. Louis Blues gaining a 2-0 lead and it changed the outcome of Game 7 as the visiting team hoisted the Stanley Cup on TD Garden ice.

As mentioned, the early postseason exit in 2023 was embarrassing.

“Last year was such an empty feeling,” Montgomery told reporters after Saturday’s win. The coach also believes things are different this season as the Bruins prepare to face Florida.

The Bruins have an opportunity to avenge that disaster against the Panthers this spring, but Boston needs to play a lot better than it did against the Maple Leafs. Pastrnak needs to produce and that’s going to be a bigger challenge against a heavier and more physical Panther team. Montgomery challenged Pastrnak to play better prior to Game 7 and maybe his game-winning goal could propel that production and confidence moving forward.

Montgomery’s “trying to bring the best out of every single player and he expects more,” Pastrnak told reporters after Game 7. “I’ll try to be better and I admit I need to be better. I still have ways to be better.”

The Bruins need to tighten their play in the defensive zone and not force their goaltender to make highlight-reel saves time and again, even though it’s spectacular to watch Swayman’s heroics between the pipes. Special teams play a critical role in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Bruins should receive plenty of opportunities on the power play since the Panthers will produce an intense physical game.

Ask any Stanley Cup champion and he’ll tell you luck plays an important factor in a team’s ability to win. That only increases the further a team advances in the playoffs and the Bruins will need to be on the receiving end of that puck luck, especially against an elite goaltender such the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky. He’s a finalist for this season’s Vezina Trophy after compiling a 36-17-4 record, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, including six shutouts in 58 games for Florida. He guided the Panthers to a second Atlantic Division title in three seasons and the second-highest points total (110) in franchise history.

The Panthers also have the offensive fire power of Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe, which should be a threat against the Bruins.

This is going to be a tough series for Boston. It should go seven games, but I don’t think the Bruins have enough to pull off another series victory and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

Unfortunately for Bruins fans, NESN broadcasts are complete for the postseason. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize Jack Edwards for an impressive 19-year career as the Bruins play-by-play broadcaster. He recently announced his retirement and he will be missed. Whether or not you enjoyed Jack’s call, there’s no denying his talent, passion and dedication to his craft and the Bruins. His chemistry with longtime broadcast partner Andy Brickley is unmatched in their industry and it was a pleasure to work alongside Jack all these years. We became friends and I wish him nothing but happiness in retirement. He came a long way from his days at WJAR in Providence. Good luck, Jack. Maybe the Bruins will win this one for you.

On X: @JoeyMacHockey

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: If Boston Bruins want to advance, they must toughen up against Panthers