In Boston, the Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk poked the puck off Florida’s Alex Lyons right leg pad in the second period to put Boston up, 3-1, 17:32 into the frame.
“Results matter more than the process right now,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “When we look at our 5-on-5 game, we were not very happy with our process. So we can get better there, but the result was really good, and I think the result comes from we had some players play really well, especially our goaltender. … The intensity of the playoffs, it surprised us a little bit, and I think we had a little bit of nerves.”
That was enough breathing room for the Bruins who went to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers in Game 1 of their first round series with the Panthers.
“[Patrice Bergeron] was around all day and kind of talked to us before the game,” DeBrusk said. “Obviously, such a presence. You could tell that he wants to be out there and he can’t wait to get back in the mix. … We want to do it for him. That was the main goal at the start of the year, and I think it’s one of those things where we got off on the right foot tonight, but it’s really early.”
Linus Ullmark made 31 saves for the Bruins in the win.
David Pastrnak scored off the power play with six minutes gone in the first period for a 1-1 lead to Boston.
Boston was 1-for-2 on the power play.
Brag Marchand scored on Lyon in the second period when his shot from the left circle went the glove for a 2-0 lead to the Bruins.
“I don’t think there’s any question marks about him [Bertuzzi],” Marchand said. “He’s just one of those guys that you hate to play against. He brings it every night. Like I said, his compete level is through the roof, so (he’s) a guy that you knew was going to show up and be a playoff-type player.”
Game 2 in Wednesday in Boston
“I thought our defense, especially early on, did a great job of getting pucks through and to our net,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “I think we could make a few adjustments on our positioning there to give us just a chance to get to some more rebound chances and things, but that part was probably the strength of our game.”
Matthew Tkachuk scored three minutes later to trim the Boston lead to 2-1.
“There were parts of our game that were good, and I feel like [the Bruins] got a little bit better as it got on,” Tkachuk said. “Especially when you have a two-goal lead, it’s easier to play. You’re playing safer, and they packed it in pretty good on us, but I’m confident in our team, in our game, and seeing a lot of things that I think we could hang with these guys.”
The Panthers broke out of their end and send the puck deep, which then ricocheted off the skate of Boston’s Dmitry Orlov to Tkachuk who deftly tucked it home for the goal.
Lyon made 26 saves in the loss.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been satisfied with any game we’ve had this year,” Marchand said. “… It’s always good to start the first game with a win, but we haven’t accomplished anything yet.”
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