Boston — In a fiercely contested Game 5 victory over the Panthers in Florida on Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins held on for dear life and ultimately salvaged their season with a remarkable three-minute sequence.
The Bruins were holding onto a 2-1 lead late in the third period, trailing 3-1 overall. However, the Panthers dominated the last three minutes of play, going on the attack for the most of that time.
Charlie McAvoy attempted to clear a puck out of the Boston end, but he was whistled for an icing because he was slightly above the red line. As Florida made a last-ditch effort to score the equaliser, the play-stoppage and the faceoff in Boston’s end allowed the Panthers to remove Sergei Bobrovsky from the goal and give them an extra skater.
The last three minutes and five seconds of the game were intense, but the Bruins stopped every Panthers attack. The Bruins shut out the Panthers for the entirety of their 6-on-5 attack, thanks to a blocked shot and a fantastic save by Jeremy Swayman. Boston will now survive to see a Game 6.
After McAvoy icing and a failed attempt to put the puck in the net by Sam Reinhart, who scored Florida’s lone goal of the game in the second period, the Panthers won the opening faceoff. However, McAvoy made up for his icing by stopping the shot.
Less than a minute later, Carter Verhaeghe of Florida tried the same thing but was turned down as well. Three times, to be exact, with Charlie Coyle, Hampus Lindholm, and Jake DeBrusk all thwarting his efforts. The Panthers had six skaters on the ice, but the Bruins blocked six shots.
With seven seconds remaining, Florida got one last chance, and it was a wonderful one, as Reinhart found the left side of the net with the ball. Nevertheless, Swayman swiftly skated across the crease to make his 28th and most significant stop of the game, leaving the Panthers centre without an open net.
Less than a minute later, Carter Verhaeghe of Florida tried the same thing but was turned down as well. Three times, to be exact, with Charlie Coyle, Hampus Lindholm, and Jake DeBrusk all thwarting his efforts. The Panthers had six skaters on the ice, but the Bruins blocked six shots.
With seven seconds remaining, Florida got one last chance, and it was a wonderful one, as Reinhart found the left side of the net with the ball. Nevertheless, Swayman swiftly skated across the crease to make his 28th and most significant stop of the game, leaving the Panthers centre without an open net.
In Game 5, twelve different players pushed themselves in front of the puck, and the Bruins blocked twenty-one of those shots. And Swayman gave his best version of a brick wall once more when the puck did manage to find its way into the net. In the third session, he denied the Panthers’ ten attempts on goal.
After the victory, Swagman remarked of the Bruins, “We had an edge.” “And we weren’t taking no for an answer.”
“Never say die,” McAvoy informed them. “This series is wholly open, and we’re heading home. Let’s win a hockey game and head home.”
With a 3-2 series deficit, the Bruins are still facing overwhelming odds, but the onus is now entirely on Florida. And the Bruins’ final three minutes of Game 5 will be remembered as a defining moment in the series if they can turn the tables and defeat the Panthers 3-1, repaying the favour from the previous postseason. The additional day will allow the Bruins to prepare for Game 6 in Boston on Friday night, giving Swayman much-needed rest and an opportunity for Brad Marchand to make his lineup comeback after missing the previous two games.
In a tough environment, the Bruins finished Game 5 with amazing poise. They are now tied in the series and one victory at home would force a Sunday Game 7 back in Florida.
