The Panthers (39-29-8) have won 13 of their last 19 games, but enter Saturday's contest on the heels of consecutive losses for just the second time since the All-Star break. After a 4-3 loss in Toronto on Wednesday, Florida lost, 3-2, on a penalty shot in overtime in Ottawa on Thursday.
"It was good that we got the point and it obviously would have been a lot better if we had got the extra one, but we've got to make these next couple games count," said Panthers goaltender James Reimer, who stopped 27 of 30 shots in defeat. "We know what's on the line and we understand what we have to do. We'll do what it takes."
After starting three of the last four games, Reimer could once again get the nod in net over starter Roberto Luongo for the Panthers in Boston. In a conference call with local media on Friday, coach Bob Boughner was non-committal about the goaltending situation.
While Luongo has certainly been stellar this season, Reimer has been the hotter hand as of late. Over his last six starts, the 30-year-old backup is 5-0-1 with a 1.32 goals-against average, .959 save percentage and two shutouts.
In Florida's only other meeting with the Bruins this season, Reimer posted a 46-save shutout.
"I really like Reims' game a lot right now, so it could very much be James Reimer in net tomorrow," Boughner said.
Fresh off his NHL debut in Ottawa, Henrik Borgstrom is also expected to be back in the lineup for the Panthers on Saturday. The 2016 first-round pick impressed coaches during his first taste of NHL action against the Senators, registering two shots on goal and one takeaway in 12:41 of ice time.
"As the game went on, you could tell he was getting more comfortable, more puck touches," Boughner said. "I thought that he reads the game very well, that he has a really good stick and he made some plays that were good plays for a young guy. I think this guy's going to get better and better every game and you can tell he's got a high hockey IQ."
With six games remaining in their season - four at home, two away - Florida is going to need a little help in order to make the playoffs, as it currently sits three points behind New Jersey for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand.
"It's a young team, and they haven't been through this kind of grind and kind of playoff mentality that you need this time of year," Boughner said. "You got to be able to take what the game gives you and, sometimes, we force things. That's not how to play this time of year."
The Bruins (48-17-11) have already secured their spot in the postseason but are locked in a heated battle with Tampa Bay for both the division championship and a chance to be the top playoff seed in the conference. Boston is coming off a 4-2 win over the Lightning on Thursday and currently sits one point out of the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
"Obviously we all know how big it was for the standings and what it meant for both teams," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said after the victory. "So, it was great to see the guys react the way they did and have the game we did."
The Bruins have won five of their last 10 games.
