Bruins' top-six forwards must step up offensively in Game 4 vs. Panthers

Bruins' top-six forwards must step up offensively in Game 4 vs. Panthers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON -- The Bruins won't win their Eastern Conference second-round series versus the Florida Panthers if their top-six forwards don't start scoring goals at a higher rate.

These guys need to be Boston's best players. And not only is this group failing to perform at a high level through three games, the Panthers' top-six forwards are starting to fire on all cylinders.

If this trend doesn't reverse, the Bruins likely will be facing a 3-1 series deficit come Monday morning.

The Bruins lost 6-2 in Friday night's Game 3 at TD Garden, and for the third time in the series, their top-six forwards weren't able to generate much offense.

It also was the fifth time in the last six games the Bruins have scored two or fewer goals. They've been able to survive this lack of offense primarily because of Jeremy Swayman's elite goaltending, but it's unfair to expect him to maintain a .950 save percentage for two rounds.

"We haven't generated much offense. We have to get better," Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said postgame. "I have to give the players a better plan. Florida was significantly better than us. I've got to come up with a better game plan."

David Pastrnak has scored only one goal in his last six games. It was a pretty important one -- the series-clinching tally in overtime of Game 7 in Round 1 -- but he needs to be a lot better for the Bruins to have a chance in this series. Pastrnak has zero goals with seven shots in three games versus the Panthers.

Pavel Zacha has not scored a single goal in 19 career playoff games. He registered only one shot and was held without a point in Game 3. His brutal turnover in the defensive zone during the first period led to the Panthers' opening goal.

Charlie Coyle has scored one goal in 10 playoff games. He tallied zero points and only one shot, while losing 10 of 18 faceoffs in Game 3. Morgan Geekie has been the second-line center of late. He has scored one goal with zero assists in the last four games. He didn't tally a point in each of the last two matchups versus the Panthers.

Jake DeBrusk was one of two or three Bruins players who actually played well in Game 3. He scored a goal and picked up an assist, while dishing out a team-high six hits.

Brad Marchand hasn't scored in his last six games. He didn't tally a single shot in Game 3, and he didn't play after the second period due to an upper body injury. Montgomery didn't have a new update on Marchand postgame. Losing Marchand for any amount of time would be a significant setback for the Bruins. He is their leading scorer in the playoffs with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 games, while also playing a key role on special teams.

Making matters worse for the Bruins is the fact that the Panthers' top-six forwards, especially captain Aleksander Barkov, are consistently creating scoring chances. They also play fast, physical and wear you down with a relentless work ethic and aggressive forecheck. It's an extremely tough group to play against.

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A lack of scoring from the top-six forwards isn't the Bruins' only problem right now.

The penalty kill was awful in Game 3. The starts to games have been bad; Boston tallied just three shots in the first period Friday. The Bruins are still committing way too many turnovers. Boston's power play is 0-for-7 in Round 2, and that unit hasn't scored since Game 4 of the first round. Veteran defenseman Charlie McAvoy is in a slump, both offensively and defensively.

Unless the Bruins' best forwards start spending more time in the offensive zone and ultimately score more goals, it's going to be very difficult to beat a Panthers team that has scored three or more goals in seven of its eight playoff games.

Swayman's brilliance in net was enough to lead the Bruins past the Leafs in Round 1. He needs a lot more help if Boston is going to win this series against the Panthers.