Since the Bruins hit all their keys in their series win against Buffalo last week, I compiled another list for the Eastern Conference semifinals, from the players themselves.
The No. 1 key is to play physical, but there's more — a lot more.
After getting a locker-room consensus over the days leading up to Game 1, here are some of the players' keys to the second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers:
- Play "smart-physical," and don't overextend energy.
- Stay out of the box, avoid retaliatory penalties — cooler heads will prevail.
- Score first.
- Play well defensively and get the puck out of the zone.
- Limit turnovers, recognize Philadelphia's ability to rush.
- Get pucks in deep.
- Be strong on puck in offensive zone and keep possession — this is not going to be a run-and-gun series.
- Find ways to get pucks through blocked-shot attempts and get inside their defense.
- Goaltending needs to be hot.
- Take advantage of power-play opportunities.
- Strong penalty kill needs to continue.
- Don't think of it as a bonus to be in second round.
- Last, but not least: Play hard.
