Panthers frustrated by Ullmark, Bruins in 3-1 loss on home ice
Florida controlled much of the play during the first two periods but couldn't solve Boston's goaltender
Revenge was on the menu on Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena when the Florida Panthers hosted the Boston Bruins.
Florida went out hunting for retribution on Charlie McAvoy while the Bruins wanted to pick up a second win in as many games against the team that knocked them out of last year’s playoffs.
Ultimately it would be Boston getting the last laugh, shutting down the Panthers and skating to a 3-1 victory.
Florida came out hot against the Bruins, controlling the pace of play early and putting several crushing checks on McAvoy.
It was clear the Panthers were thinking about payback after his hits to the head of Carter Verhaeghe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson when the teams last met on Oct. 30.
Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins each took a turn taking McAvoy to the ice in the opening minutes of the game, with Cousins adding an elbow to the face for good measure.
A first period that was mostly controlled by Florida (except in the faceoff circle, where Boston won 18 of 21 draws) would end with the Bruins ahead thanks to a Charlie Coyle 4-on-4 goal in the final minutes.
It took 19 shots and over 30 minutes, but the Panthers finally solved Ullmark thanks to a deflection by Anton Lundell of a long wrist shot by Cousins to tie the game at one.
Less than a minute later Boston took the lead right back when John Beecher stickhandled around Bobrovsky and sent a backhand toward the net. The shot appeared to be going through the crease and out the other side but a diving effort by Ekman-Larsson to stop the shot backfired and the puck went off his forearm and into the net.
Jake DeBrusk made it 3-1 Boston when he took a loose puck from below Florida’s goal line and went straight to the net, scoring on his own rebound with just under six minutes to go in the second period.
That would be all the Bruins needed to shut things down and cruise to a nice road victory.
Florida was only able to muster up six shots during the third period, with the majority coming in the final minutes with Bobrovsky on the bench for an extra attacker.
Here are some thoughts and observations from Wednesday’s tilt with the Bruins:
Point-producing machine Niko Mikkola picked up another assist. He’s up to 3 goals and 5 assists through 19 games.
Ullmark was sublime in goal for Boston. He made 27 saves, including seven of the eight high danger shots sent his way by the Panthers.
Florida lost 18 of the 21 faceoffs during the first period. They finished 19-of-51 on draws.
The Panthers killed all three of Boston’s power plays, but were unable to capitalize on either of the two of their own.
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