Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
In the early slot of the NHL's game day festivities, we have a clash between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers. The two teams have already faced off last week, with the Panthers emerging victorious 6:4, despite conceding two goals in the final three minutes.
Boston Bruins
Even from the first few games of the season, it's evident that the Bruins' top-six forwards will have to carry a significant load. On Saturday, they faced a back-to-back matchup against the Los Angeles Kings (2:1OT) but showing a noticeable drop in both scoring and shooting efficiency. The Bruins managed to create just 1.62 xG and five high-danger chances compared to 12 in their previous two consecutive games. Goals from Hampus Lindholm and David Pastrňák are crucial, as they are the main hopes for the team. The Bruins' depth has taken a hit following the offseason departures of Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and James van Riemsdyk.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are unlikely to replicate their high-scoring game from last week. Since then, the Panthers have lost Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk to injuries—two pillars of their offensive play, whether at equal strength or during power plays. Last season, they combined for 168 points just in the regular season. The coaching staff now has to make adjustments on the fly, promoting players from the lower lines. Sam Bennett is stepping in as the centre for the top line, while Eetu Luostarinen shifts to wing in the second line. Naturally, this will impact their attacking potential.
Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers Prediction
Before their meeting last week, the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers had faced each other three times in low-scoring contests, never surpassing a total of 5.5 goals. Following that, the Panthers have only managed three goals in matches against the Buffalo Sabres (2:5) and the Ottawa Senators (1:3). Therefore, we’re not expecting a high-scoring match.
