Bruins take 3-1 series lead over Panthers: DeBrusk steps up in Game 4 win

Apr 23, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of game four in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
By Fluto Shinzawa and The Athletic Staff
Apr 23, 2023

The Bruins defeated the Panthers 6-2 in Game 4 on Sunday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Boston got on the board first with a Brad Marchand power-play goal in the first period and captured two-goal leads behind Jake DeBrusk’s scores in the second and third. Taylor Hall scored twice in the final minutes to finish with two goals and two assists.
  • Linus Ullmark, who exited after receiving a 10-minute misconduct for a scrap late in the third period, finished with 41 saves and was credited with an assist on Hall’s first goal.
  • The Bruins host Game 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

DeBrusk responds

DeBrusk had to leave the first period early after taking a puck to the head. He came back in a big way.

After returning in the second period, DeBrusk scored a power-play goal after Matthew Tkachuk cross-checked Garnet Hathaway in the back. DeBrusk’s goal made it a 2-0 game. In the third period, DeBrusk scored on the rebound of a Pavel Zacha shot to give the Bruins a 4-2 lead. — Shinzawa

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Line changes pay off

Coach Jim Montgomery changed his top three lines at the start of the third period. The moves paid off.

A No. 3 line of Tyler Bertuzzi, Trent Frederic and Nick Foligno scored on its first shift. Bertuzzi tipped Brandon Carlo’s shot into the net. DeBrusk’s second goal came while he was on a new second line with Zacha and Taylor Hall. — Shinzawa

Heads-up Ullmark save

The Panthers were roaring in the first period. At one point, they had a 10-0 shot advantage. One of those pucks should have gone in — a close-range Sam Reinhart chance off a two-on-one rush with Carter Verhaeghe.

But Ullmark pushed from right to left and timed his leap just right to put his mask in front of Reinhart’s chance. — Shinzawa

Backstory

The Bruins continued to play without captain Patrice Bergeron and forward David Krejci.

Montgomery previously said Bergeron, who’s missed four straight games, did not travel with the Bruins to Florida. The captain suffered an upper-body injury in the team’s final regular-season game.

Krejci missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury despite participating in pregame warmups.

Highlights of the game

2023 NHL playoff bracket

Required reading

(Photo: Jasen Vinlove / USA Today)

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