So after a nights sleep, here is what has been so frustrating.
As I said after Game 1, the Bruins path to victory is getting the puck behind the Panthers D and exposing that the Panthers are not that great defending in their own zone and to punish the Panthers aggressiveness with odd man rushes. They also have to win the special teams and goaltending battle.
Now, to be clear, this isn't the kind of hockey that is going to win 51 out of 100 games. But it can win 4 of 7.
It might surprise folks, but the Bruins are actually winning the 5 on 5 high danger chance battle in this series. When they get the puck down low they are exposing the Panthers ability to cover. They have been getting odd man rushes and breakaways, but they have not been finishing, and their forward speed means they have not been getting as many of these as they should. They are winning the goaltending battle.
That's all adding up to the Panthers holding an 8 to 7 edge in 5 on 5 goal scoring. Despite the massive possession and shot differentials, the Bruins are mostly keeping the Panthers to lower quality chances and trying to rely on Swayman. Its the game plan and their only path to victory.
But the special teams aspect. Woof. Goals are 7-1 in favor of the Panthers in 5 on 4 situation. The Panthers have more than double the 5 on 4 advantage time, and a not insignificant portion of the Bruins PP time has been in garbage time. The Panthers have 30 minutes of PP time when the game is within a goal and the Bruins 10 minutes. It's not surprising the Panthers have more PPs since they have had the puck more, but that spread is insane. It's been extremely frustrating in a series where the Bruins really need a lot to go right to have a lot going wrong. And for at key times in the past two games especially for questionable calls (and some of them more than questionable) to be going against the Bruins.
The Panthers should be winning the series. But, it's much closer than the "42-18 lol" people are letting on. But, the refs have changed it from a "maybe the Bruins can steal it here" to "no f***ing chance" and that is extremely frustrating.