Bruins-Sabres Game 2 takeaways: Second line, Swayman power B's to win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins bounced back in impressive fashion with a Game 2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center to even their first-round playoff series 1-1.
Just like in Game 1, the Sabres made a strong comeback in the third period. This time, they trimmed the Bruins’ lead from 4-0 to 4-2 with five minutes left in regulation. But the B’s didn’t let the momentum carry the Sabres any further.
They tightened up defensively and goaltender Jeremy Swayman rose to the occasion with a bunch of important saves.
What were the key factors in the Bruins’ win? Let’s look at four key takeaways from Game 2.
1. Second line bounces back
Game 1 was ugly for the Bruins’ second line of Viktor Arvidsson, Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt. This trio tallied zero points, four total shots, and had only 0.28 expected goals at 5-on-5. It was a rare bad outing for one of the league’s most productive lines post-Olympic break.
Bruins head coach Marco Sturm admitted the team needed more from this line after Game 1.
“I think the Zacha line, they can be better, they really can,” he told reporters Monday. They were just OK, but I know they have another gear, like they’ve been all year. So I think that’s, that’s one line that needs to get better.”
These guys bounced back in a major way in Game 2, and it was the difference in the outcome.
Viktor Arvidsson was the catalyst for Boston. After failing to score on a first-period breakaway, he cashed in on another breakaway attempt in the second period to beat Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a backhand shot.
Arvidsson also put the B’s up 4-0 just 16 seconds into the third period with another excellent shot that resulted in the Sabres pulling Luukkonen.
Zacha also scored on a second-period power play. Mittelstadt picked up assists on both of Arvidsson’s goals. Overall, this line had three goals, two assists and nine total shots.
The Bruins need scoring depth to win this series. They can’t rely too much on the top line. The rest of the lineup stepped up to the challenge in Game 2.
2. Jeremy Swayman giving B’s clear advantage in net
Swayman played really well in Game 1 despite the loss, and he was even better in Game 2. He made 34 saves on 36 shots for a .944 save percentage. He also saved 1.67 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, and he made eight saves on nine high-danger scoring chances for the Sabres.
Swayman was especially reliable late in the third period after the Sabres scored twice to cut the lead in half. He didn’t relent, tracked the puck well and prevented the score from getting too close for comfort. He made 18 saves in the third period. It was a pivotal stretch in the series.
Sturm praised Swayman’s leadership postgame.
“He’s a big part of it. If you have a goalie like that, he doesn’t have to have a ‘C’ or an ‘A’ on him,” Sturm told reporters at his press conference. “We know he’s a big part of our team, he’s a big leader. He’s been through it, those ups and downs. He’s been very quiet but when he speaks we all listen.”
Swayman has a .931 save percentage in the series, which is outstanding. As expected, he has given the B’s a huge advantage in net. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn’t play great in the series opener and gave an awful performance in Game 2 with four goals against, including a shocking goal from center ice on a simple dump in by Morgan Geekie.
The Sabres now need to figure out whether to go back to Luukkonen for Game 3 or go with backup Alex Lyon. There’s no such controversy with the Bruins. Swayman is the most trustworthy player in the series right now.
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images3. Bruins’ penalty kill surprisingly excellent so far
The Bruins didn’t have an effective penalty kill in the regular season. This unit ranked 24th in the league with a 77 percent success rate. The B’s have shown tremendous improvement shorthanded in this series, though.
Boston went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in Game 2 and this group is a perfect 9-for-9 in the series. Swayman is a huge part of that success. He has stopped all 18 shots the Sabres have generated on the power play.
It hasn’t all been Swayman, though. The B’s are consistently breaking up passes, winning puck battles and preventing zone entries while shorthanded.
The Sabres are in a power play slump. They’ve failed to score on 31 straight opportunities with the man advantage going back to the regular season. Will the Sabres’ power play break through in Boston?
4. David Pastrnak making strong impact offensively
Superstar players have to deliver in the playoffs, and Pastrnak has stepped up for the Bruins through two games.
After scoring one goal with two assists in Game 1, he added two more assists in Game 2, moving him into a tie with Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr for eighth place on the Bruins’ all-time playoff scoring leaderboard with 92 career points.
Pastrnak isn’t just making a difference at even strength. He has factored into both of Boston’s power play goals (one goal, one assist) in the series, too.
Pastrnak could maybe be a little more aggressive looking for his shot on the power play, but the numbers don’t lie: The B’s have produced 19 scoring chances and 11 high-danger chances when he’s been on the ice through two games.
