Florida will try to close out the Bruins when they travel to Boston for Game 6 on Friday

The Boston Bruins have lived to fight another day.

An excellent effort in goal by Jeremy Swayman led the way for the Bruins, who defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 and extended their second round series to a sixth game.

Boston played their best 20 minutes of the series during the first period and were rewarded early on for it.

A perfectly timed pass from Jake DeBrusk found a cutting Morgan Geekie as he moved through the Panthers zone and toward the goal.

Geekie made a quick move from his forehand to his backhand, carrying the puck around a sprawling Sergei Bobrovsky and into the open net to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Florida looked much better when the middle frame began, and like Boston in the first period, was rewarded for the effort.

A point shot from Aaron Ekblad was blocked just above the goal crease, and the puck trickled right to the stick of Sam Reinhart.

Florida’s goal-scoring specialist snapped a shot past Jeremy Swayman’s glove and into the net, tying the game at one at the 6:23 mark.

The game only stayed tied for about four minutes.

Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz collided behind the Bruins net just as Boston regained possession, allowing the visitors a 5-on-3 rush up the ice.

DeBrusk ended up with the puck and lots of space between the circles, beating Bobrovsky, who complained of goalie interference, to give Boston the lead for a second time.

Florida did challenge the play, but the goal was upheld.

The Panthers failed to convert on a pair of third period power plays, though Swayman played a big part in Boston’s success while down a man, and the Bruins held on to avoid elimination.

On to Game 6.

Here are some thoughts and observations from Game 5 against Boston:

Boston finished with 28 shots on 48 attempts while the Panthers had 29 shots on 65 attempts.

Florida finished 0-for-4 on the power play, though they did go a perfect 3-for-3 while shorthanded.

Boston held the Panthers to a postseason-low four shots during the first period.

Reinhart is up to five goals and nine points through Florida’s 10 playoff games.

He also led all players with eight shots on goal  

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