The Bruins entered the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs with a good problem on their hands. The goalie situation arguably was the biggest question mark hovering over Boston heading into the postseason. The Bruins roster a pair of standout netminders, who successfully rotated throughout the regular season and helped the club finish with the Eastern Conference's fourth-highest point total. Jeremy Swayman received the nod for Game 1 of Boston's first-round series against Toronto, and the 2024 All-Star shined with 35 saves in a 5-1 win at TD Garden.
The frustrations on the advantage were running hot early in the third period at PPG Paints Arena when PP QB Charlie McAvoy overhandled the puck in the offensive zone, leading to a Drew O'Connor breakaway and shorthanded goal that trimmed the Bruins lead to 4-3. A peeved, animated Jim Montgomery, framed by ABC cameras, could be seen airing out his PP1 charges once they were back on the bench after the gaffe, made all the worse by their lack of hustle and urgency to catch O'Connor. Post-game, Montgomery said he blasted the entire five-man unit, though the framing of the ABC shot gave the impression he directed his heat at the talented, and no doubt frustrated, McAvoy.
The Bruins had a golden opportunity to gain breathing room Saturday night, but a costly mistake gave the Penguins new life. Boston owned a 4-2 lead over Pittsburgh a few minutes into the third period when it found itself on the power play. The B's tried to set something up from the blue line 40 seconds into the man advantage, but a Charlie McAvoy turnover sent the Penguins on the attack. Lars Eller dished a great feed to Logan O'Connor, who evaded Brad Marchand and beat Linus Ullmark's glove side to make it a one-goal game.
No | Player | P |
---|---|---|
19 | C | |
70 | C | |
55 | RW | |
70 | G | |
25 | D | |
13 | C | |
74 | LW | |
28 | D | |
11 | C | |
39 | C | |
48 | D | |
43 | LW | |
94 | C | |
27 | D | |
6 | D | |
17 | LW | |
63 | LW | |
61 | LW | |
73 | D | |
26 | C | |
88 | RW | |
52 | D | |
51 | C | |
12 | D | |
1 | G | |
35 | G | |
29 | D | |
18 | C | |
21 | LW |