Boston Bruins Drop Game 4, Trail 3-1 In Series Against Florida Panthers
The Boston Bruins lost 3-2 Sunday night at TD Garden, putting their season on the brink.
Boston Bruins Drop Game 4, Trail 3-1 In Series Against Florida PanthersThe Boston Bruins entered the third period of a must-win matchup up 2-1. They proceeded to let the Florida Panthers score twice.
The Bruins’ season is now on the brink as they trail 3-1 in the second-round series after dropping Game 4 at TD Garden 3-2 Sunday night.
Much noise will be made about Sam Bennett’s game-tying goal in the third period. The Bruins challenged the play for goaltender interference. Bennett cross-checked Coyle into Jeremy Swayman and Boston believed it prevented its goaltender from making the save. The league disagreed.
“Toronto ruled that it was a good goal. The play didn’t interfere with the goal – that was the explanation I got,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Sunday. “We thought Coyle was on top of our goaltender and if Coyle was able to stand his ground, he could’ve cleared the puck.”
Unfortunate, sure. But Boston had two power plays in the latter half of the third on which it did not capitalize, and failed to extend its lead earlier on in the game. Whether it was goaltender interference on Bennett’s tally or not, the Bruins couldn’t close out the last 20 minutes while up a goal – that’s why they’re in this hole.
“We have our backs against the wall right now, but what a great opportunity for us to do to them what they did to us last year,” Brandon Carlo said Sunday.
Charlie McAvoy opened the game by leveling Sam Reinhart at the offensive blue line to kickstart a period in which the Bruins threw 19 hits.
Boston took a 1-0 lead at 8:53 of the first frame while Aaron Ekblad sat in the box for interference. Jake DeBrusk pushed the puck up to David Pastrnak by the right face-off circle where he rocketed a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first power-play goal since March 7.
Carlo doubled Boston’s advantage to 2-0 with a blast from the point at 15:12 after picking up a loose puck that bounced off Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s skate at the top of the zone. The play marked Carlo’s third goal of the postseason which is a new career high for the defenseman.
Florida pulled within one in the second period thanks to a snapshot from Anton Lundell at the left circle that beat Swayman along the post, stick-side. Lundell’s first goal of the playoffs made it 2-1 at 14:51.
None other than Bennett tied things 2-2 to open the third period after Hampus Lindholm was called for interference at 1:42. Bennett – stationed on the left doorstep – knocked home the rebound of Lundell’s initial shot for the Panthers’ second power-play tally of the night.
“There’s no way that he can get there…I hit [Swayman]. If I don’t hit him I’m falling completely,” Coyle said Sunday of the play. “My momentum hits him, so he can’t get over.”
Aleksander Barkov earned Florida its first lead of the game at 7:31 as he weaved his way past three Bruins and to the net where he roofed it top shelf for the 3-2 lift and final scoreline. Jeremy Swayman’s 38 saves ultimately could not keep his team afloat.
“Swayman was really good,” Montgomery said. “Gave us the opportunity, and I think we missed four odd-man rushes in the second that could’ve really extended our lead.”
The Bruins are headed back to Florida for Game 5 at Amerant Bank Arena Tuesday night. They will be fighting for their playoff lives.