Bruins Game 2 lineup: Jesper Boqvist slots back in; Swayman expected starter
Jesper Boqvist missed Game 1 vs. the Panthers due to injury.
SUNRISE, Fla. — “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” seems to be the mantra for the Bruins, especially when it comes to their goalie corps.
Jeremy Swayman was the first goalie off the ice during Boston’s morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena on Wednesday — signaling that the 25-year-old netminder will get the nod in net for the seventh straight matchup in Game 2 against the Panthers.
Puck drop from Sunrise is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In Game 1 on Monday, the Panthers were the latest team to run into the brick wall that has been Swayman this postseason. Swayman didn’t budge against Florida’s relentless approach in the offensive zone, turning aside 38 of the 39 shots that came his way.
Swayman is now 5-2 this postseason with a .955 save percentage.
Swayman became the eighth goaltender in NHL history to allow two or fewer goals in each of his first seven starts of a single postseason — and the first since Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2007.
“It’s a characteristic that some of the best players have is that confidence,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “They know how good they are. And that’s Sway.”
Based on Wednesday’s skate, the lone change that the Bruins are making for Game 2 is on the fourth line, with Jesper Boqvist replacing Patrick Brown as the team’s 4C. Jim Montgomery confirmed on Wednesday morning that Boqvist missed Game 1 due to a nagging injury but has been cleared for game action after a short layoff.
The 25-year-old center has one assist in seven playoff games, but has been a useful asset this postseason thanks to his straight-line speed, especially on a line with a fellow fleet-footed skater in Johnny Beecher and a power forward like Pat Maroon.
Brown, who joined Boston as part of an emergency call-up due to Boqvist’s injury, logged 8:27 of ice time in Game 1 — with the Boston College product doling out a team-high nine hits.
The Bruins will not make any changes to their D corps, with Derek Forbort sticking in the lineup and Andrew Peeke (upper-body injury) still working his way back toward game action.
Florida is still awaiting the return of top-six center (and forechecking menace) Sam Bennett, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Panthers’ first-round series after taking a slapshot off his hand.
On Wednesday, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed that Bennett will not play in Game 2, but will travel to Boston and could be an option for Games 3 and 4 at TD Garden. Sergei Bobrovsky is the expected starter in net for Florida.
Here is Boston’s projected lineup for Game 2, based on morning skate:
Pavel Zacha – Morgan Geekie – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Jake DeBrusk
James van Riemsdyk – Trent Frederic – Justin Brazeau
Johnny Beecher – Jesper Boqvist – Pat Maroon
Mason Lohrei – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort – Parker Wotherspoon
Jeremy Swayman
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