The Boston Bruins opened the 2024-25 season with a 6-4 loss to the Florida Panthers, the team that eliminated Boston each of the last two postseasons.
Last night’s game included more of the same issues the Bruins have had with the Panthers. In the offseason, Boston added more size and grit to the lineup to try to match up better with Florida, but for at least one night, the new roster look did not seem to matter. Here are five takeaways from the Bruins’ first season-opening loss since the 2018-19 season:
Joonas Korpisalo is a work in progress
Korpisalo got the start with Jeremy Swayman, who was not quite ready after signing his eight-year contract on Sunday. At the beginning of the game, Korpisalo was fairly sharp and made a couple of sparking saves. However, after a rebound popped high into the air, Sam Bennett knocked the rebound home at the crease, and it was downhill from there. Last season, the former Ottawa Senators goalie had a subpar year with a goals-against average of .327 and a save percentage under .900. The hope is that with the Bruins’ track record of getting the most out of goaltenders, Korpisalo will benefit. Well, more work has to be done.
The defense is still lacking toughness
In the offseason, the Bruins signed 6-foot-6 behemoth Nikita Zadorov to add size and much-needed grit. The move seemed to be solely with the Panthers in mind. However, the rest of the defense, minus Charlie McAvoy, does not seem to have much nastiness in its DNA. The Panthers were getting far too much available area near the crease and even ran Korpisalo over after Bennett scored his second of the game. The Bruins need more toughness, nastiness, and grit from that unit or they will not get to where they need to be.
The offensive depth is lacking, but we know that
Coming into the season, the biggest concern might have been the overall scoring balance in the lineup. Elias Lindholm had an assist and two shots on goal in 19:20 of ice time in his Bruins’ debut and he should help the cause throughout the season. But it is really the bottom six that struggled mightily Tuesday night. John Beecher played well on the fourth line, but the third line of Trent Frederic centering Max Jones and Justin Brazeau had a terrible night until Frederic scored late in the game. Without Matt Poitras due to injury and with Tyler Johnson unsigned, the forward groups will need to be tweaked sooner rather than later.
The Bruins were uncharacteristically undisciplined
Seven minor penalties will not get it done in the NHL. But beyond that, the defense was out of position an alarming amount, and there was a distinct lack of cohesiveness. With new players at different positions, the team looked like the players had not played a ton together, and Florida returned eight or their top nine forwards. One team looked much more comfortable together on the ice, but it wasn’t Boston. The penalties and lack of sync are correctable and should be improved as early as Thursday at home against Montreal.
Tuesday night was similar to the last postseason when the Panthers hemmed the Bruins into their own zone repeatedly without much chance of advancing and possessing the puck. Boston tried to stretch passes from the goal line to the blue line, which were intercepted several times for more Panther scoring chances. Too many times along the half wall, a Bruin would be caved in by a Panther forechecker only to lose the puck. At one point, it is on the coaching staff to figure out an adjustment or two to avoid such lopsided play. The rematch this Monday in Boston should be interesting. If this trend continues, it will be far more concerning.
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