Bruce Cassidy Doesn’t See Similarities To 2018 Series Vs. Lightning

In the spring of 2018, the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning met for just the second time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins raced out to a 1-0 series lead thanks to a dominating 6-2 victory in Game 1. The Lightning won the next four games to eliminate the Bruins. With his team up 1-0 again, Bruce Cassidy was asked on Monday if there are any similarities between the two series in his mind.

“Well not a lot to be honest,” Cassidy told reporters. “I think both teams have grown since then, some different personnel. For me it was more in reference that Game 1 is not going to dictate the whole series typically. Hey, it’s great if we go out there and put together three periods like our first period. But they had push back as the game went on. If I remember the game two years ago, they never got back into it and after that they came at us much harder.”

For Bruce Cassidy, the push back last night from the Lightning is far more relevant that 2018.

“I thought they competed hard last night. Just maybe not right from the first whistle on as ready as we are. But that happens to teams,” Cassidy continued. “But they were certainly physical and trying to play behind us and finish checks when they could all over the ice. So at the end of the day two years ago doesn’t matter, only in the essence that you win the first game you can’t get too comfortable, you put it behind you like I said and you worry about the next one.”

One thing that could be learned from two years ago? This series is not over.

“Maybe two years ago we were a little overconfident going into the second game. I don’t believe that will be the problem this year.”