Throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs we’ll be keeping track of all the action around the league, and bringing you all of the results in one place.
Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins
And just like that, another new series is finally upon us, and this is sure to be a wild one. Because if we thought the Panthers, fresh from a longer break after making quick work of the Lightning in Round 1, with home ice, would run right over this Bruins team that didn’t look hugely convincing in their last series against the Leafs, we had another thing coming.
The early goings — and not so early goings — of this game very much felt like it was these two teams feeling things out, and despite some good chances created on both sides, it took a while for anyone to break through. The first goal of the game came from Matthew Tkachuk, more than 31 minutes into the game, but once that seal was broken, we were off and running. The Bruins found the equalizer just over a minute later, when Morgan Geekie got them on the board. And the Bruins really seemed to wake up at this point — they added two more goals before the second period was through (Mason Lohrei got his first of the playoffs, then Brandon Carlo scored with just 21 seconds remaining in the period), hitting the intermission with a comfortable lead.
And despite their best efforts — they did get the better of the overall chances in the third period — the Panthers just couldn’t come back from that. Indeed, the Bruins just waited them out in some ways, weathered the storm, and delivered two more counterpunches (an even strength goal by Justin Brazeau just before the halfway point of the period, and then the empty net goal from Jake DeBrusk) to well and truly seal the win.
Final: 5-1 Bruins
Series: 1-0 Bruins
Highlights: NHL
