Game 4 Preview: Bruins look to even the series against Buffalo

Game notes

• This best-of-seven series resumes in a Sunday afternoon matinée at TD Garden, with the Bruins looking to avoid heading back to Buffalo with their backs to the wall in Game 5.
• The B’s will be looking for a significantly better effort offensively in Game 4 after scoring just a single goal and putting up an o-fer on the power play in Game 3.
• Speaking of the power play…please. Something this afternoon. Something!
• Prior to Game 2, we noted how the Bruins needed their second line to be better if they were to have a chance in the series; they responded in a big way in that game. In Game 4, they’ll need, as a group, their “top players” to be much better than they were in Game 3 — that goes for David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, etc.
• Marco Sturm appears set to make a change to his forward lines, with reports indicating that Lukas Reichel will draw into the lineup in Game 4. He’ll replace James Hagens, who hasn’t been bad in these playoffs, but represents the easier lever for Sturm to pull.
• Those same reports suggest that Jordan Harris may replace Mason Lohrei, which isn’t exactly a shocker given Lohrei’s unsteady play in Game 3.
• In all likelihood, the Sabres will look to keep the good vibes going with their lineup. Alex Lyon will start, and Noah Ostlund will remain in the lineup after his strong performance in Game 3.
• Buffalo is planning to shake some things up on the power play though, with Ostlund joining their special teams unit. Buffalo is 0-for-14 on the power play in the series thus far.
• After the Bruins had a decent edge in the face-off circle in Game 2, Buffalo actually beat them out in Game 3, 515%-49%. I’m not sure there’s much worth reading into in that stat, but…presenting it for your consideration.
• 2 PM is a very strange start time for a playoff game, but it looks like the league is actually doing something smart (for once) and arranging things for all-day viewing. Today’s four games will start at 2 PM, 4:30 PM (Los Angeles vs. Avalanche), 7 PM (Tampa vs. Montreal), and 9:30 PM (Ducks vs. Oilers). See ya this afternoon!