Second period quick hits

– The “Jekyll and Hyde” Bruins are on full display tonight. After outplaying and outworking a Panthers team with nothing to play for in the first 20 minutes, their middle period blues returned as Florida established more zone time in the B’s end and created a few chances of their own. Then Adam McQuaid got physical with 2013 Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau, then dropped the gloves with Alex Petrovic and then Patrice Bergeron responded by drawing an interference call on Willie Mitchell and scoring his 23rd of the season seconds later.

– That effort from McQuaid and Bergeron should have sparked the Bruins, right? Well, this season, not so much. A few minutes after Bergeron’s goal, Brett Connolly took a late high-sticking penalty and Alex Barkov capitalized to tie the game for the Panthers at 1-1.

– The most important 20 minutes of the season await the Black and Gold. They are not getting any help from the Rangers, who already have the Presidents’ Trophy wrapped up, as they trail the Senators, 2-0. Although clinching a playoff spot seems out of the question for tonight, the B’s can still jump to third place in the Atlantic if they defeat the Panthers in regulation or overtime and the Red Wings, who are tied 2-2 with the Canadiens at the end of the second period, lose in regulation.

– The Bruins’ sense of urgency seemed to be missing at times during the second period. They got it back late before the Panthers tied it. Do they have another response in them? If not, they could be on the outside looking in for a playoff berth by the end of the night.

First period quick hits

– The question of the day — at least after the first period — is can the Bruins sustain their pressure on the Panthers? They found their legs in the opening 20 minutes and are a completely different team from last night’s debacle in the Nations Capital. The Black and Gold are still looking for that finish against Roberto Luongo and company, however, as the two teams are scoreless after the first period.

– For the second time in three games, Gregory Campbell is a healthy scratch. Max Talbot returned to the lineup and is skating with David Krejci and Brett Connolly on the fourth line. Also looks like Claude Julien heard the critics from last night and reunited the trio of Milan Lucic, Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak. We’ll see if Julien decides to keep these lines intact as the game progresses.

– Aside from faceoff wins (11-6 edge for Panthers), the Bruins have a big edge in the stats department. They’ve outshot the Panthers, 12-7, and have been the more physical team with a 17-7 advantage in hits.

– Overall, a very solid period for the Bruins, but they’ll need to keep the intensity going in this pivotal contest.