Panthers defenseman Gus Forsling speaks after practice on May 16 at the Baptist Health IcePlex in For Lauderdale. The Florida Panthers sure much enjoy playoff hockey in Boston. For the second straight postseason, Florida eliminated the Bruins in their own barn, thanks to Friday’s 2-1 victory in Game 6. The Panthers claimed the best-of-7 series 4-2. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] Boston opened the night strong, logging the game’s first four shots on goal in the opening 3:33. They would then go 14:11 without a shot as Florida gained and kept the momentum. That is until the final minute of the period, when Carter Verhaeghe was taken down with a questionable hit in the Boston zone by Parker Wotherspoon. Immediately after the hit, Jake DeBrusk sent a perfect pass through the neutral zone, springing Pavel Zacha on a breakaway. Zacha went to his backhand and out-waited Sergei Bobrovsky, who went for an aggressive poke check and missed, giving Boston a 1-0 lead with 52.8 left in the period. Both teams traded chances during the second period, though Florida was getting more volume in terms of possession and shots on goal. The Panthers finally broke through when Anton Lundell snatched up a loose puck between the circles that was poked away from Wotherspoon by Verhaeghe and wired it past the glove of Jeremy Swayman to tie the game at one at the 12:44 mark of the middle frame. That’s how the game would remain for nearly the duration, as the two division rivals played tight defense and limited their opponents’ opportunities. It wasn’t until the games waiting moments that Florida would come up with another big moment, and once again it was Lundell in the middle of the play. He took a drop pass from Gus Forsling across the Bruins blue line and fired a long writer on Swayman that was blockered down to the goalie’s right. Forsling, who continued to drive the net after passing to Lundell, picked up the rebound and quickly sent it back toward the net and through Swayman with just 1:33 to go. Game. Set. Match. On to the Eastern Conference Finals. Here are some thoughts and observations from Game 6 in Boston: Lundell is up to two goals and nine points through Florida’s 11 playoff games after logging a goal and an assist on Friday. Florida went 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Verhaeghe’s assist on Lundell’s second period goal was just his second point of the series. Forsling’s goal was the second game-winner of his playoff career. He also had the GWG during Game 2 in Toronto last year. Tkachuk finished the Boston series with a goal and four assists in six games. He’s up to four goals and 14 points during the playoffs. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA NHL releases full schedule for 2024 Eastern Conference Finals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/nhl-releases-full-schedule-for-2024-eastern-conference-finals] The Hockey Show: Talkin' playoffs and chicken parm with Ray Ferraro, Bill Lindsay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-talkin-playoffs-and-chicken-parm-with-ray-ferraro-bill-lindsay] Panthers look to eliminate Bruins in Boston for second straight postseason [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-look-to-eliminate-bruins-in-boston-for-second-straight-postseason] 'I'm not gonna complain': Brad Marchand says Sam Benentt hit is part of playoff hockey [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/im-not-gonna-complain-brad-marchand-says-sam-benentt-hit-is-part-of-playoff-hockey] Sergei Bobrovsky having another strong postseason, despite deceiving statistics [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/sergei-bobrovsky-having-another-strong-postseason-despite-deceiving-statistics] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
