What's Happened to the Bruins Ahead of Game 7 vs. the Panthers?

The Boston Bruins had one of the NHL's best regular seasons ever, and the Florida Panthers can eliminate them in Game 7 of Round 1. How did they end up here?

Less than a week ago, the Boston Bruins were mauling the Florida Panthers and enthralling B's fans by taking a 3-1 first-round Stanley Cup playoff series lead – and doing it with relative ease. After taking Game 1 by a 3-1 score, the Bruins lost to Florida in Game 2, but Boston roared back, winning Games 3 and 4 to put the Panthers on the brink of elimination.

However, something notable has shifted in Games 5 and 6. Florida stayed alive in the fifth game of the series by pulling out a 4-3 overtime win, and then, Friday night in front of a home crowd, the Panthers evened things up at three games apiece by scoring four goals in the third period en route to a 7-5 rollercoaster victory.

Suddenly, Boston has dropped two games in a row, which is rare – they only had one three-game losing skid in the regular season and only two losing streaks of two games or more. 

Game 6’s disheartening loss has Bruins fans understandably anguished. Is this really the same Boston team that dominated like few others in the Modern Era? Is this the group that went about its business from Game 1 of the regular season through Game 82 and finished with 22 more standings points than the next-best NHL team? It sure doesn’t seem like it. It seems like a team that had the league’s best defense (averaging 2.12 goals-against per game) has, all of a sudden, lost the plot in their own zone.

As a result, in their three losses to Florida, the Bruins have been outscored 17-11. Game 6’s meltdown was the most disappointing to Boston fans, as it featured the Bruins continually clawing their way back into the contest before allowing the Panthers to take another lead. 

In the "what have you done for me lately" world of the playoffs, Boston has looked easily panicked and prone to mistakes. The longer the series has gone on, the more the Panthers have looked confident and prepared for what the Bruins throw at them.

Certainly, you have to give the Panthers credit for where they are today. They’re not just making the most of the many opportunities they’re getting handed by the Bruins – they’ve got a veteran group that's been under enormous pressure for weeks, playing must-win games repeatedly just to get into the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Florida has shown tremendous resolve to force a seventh and final game Sunday in Boston, and they’re going to be playing Game 7 relatively free and easy. The spotlight is now on the Bruins’ problems, and the Panthers are showing they’re capable of giving Boston all they can handle.

The Bruins need better performances in just about every area, including in goal, where starter Linus Ullmark has been a one-man adventure story, and not in a good way. When he’s been sharp, Boston has won three times in the series. When he hasn’t – posting a save percentage of .840 or worse in each of Florida’s three wins – the Bruins have underachieved.

Also, while generating offense hasn’t been a problem for Boston, five of their top nine forwards – Tyler Bertuzzi, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak – all are at least a minus-three as individuals. Plus/minus is a flawed stat, but in small doses, it can tell a story. In this case, it shows you that Florida has evened the series by beating Boston’s best players in three games out of six.

Would we be shocked if Boston rose up and won Game 7? Of course not. There’s a reason most picked the Bruins to beat the Panthers. Boston has an embarrassment of riches at all three main positions, and their phenomenal depth could be the difference-maker Sunday night. But if it doesn’t – well, let’s just say there are going to be some livid Bruins fans, and rightfully so. 

The Panthers winning Game 7 would be one of the biggest upsets in hockey history. Boston fans don’t want that experience, especially after their team has looked so unstoppable from October through mid-April.

Thanks to Florida, the Bruins currently look quite stoppable indeed. That is a minor miracle, but an even bigger one could be coming one day from now.