After two games of giving up six goals against the Florida Panthers, the Bruins had a much better chance but unfortunately lost 3-2. It was a game full of favoritism by the referees and complete nonsense. Both David Pastrnak and Brandon Carlo scored for Boston, and the team played without Brad Marchand, who’s out day-to-day with an upper-body injury due to a dirty hit by Sam Bennett on Friday, May 10th. During these past three games, Jeremy Swayman has been the hero for Boston, keeping them in and showing an incredible effort to continue. However, if the Bruins lose on Tuesday back in Florida, they won’t be making it past the second round to play in the third.
Panthers lineup against the Bruins:
Tarasenko – Barkov – Reinhart
Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk
Luostarinen – Lundell – Rodrigues
Lorentz – Stenlund – Okposo
Forsling – Ekblad
Mikkola – Montour
Ekman -Larsson – Kulikov
Bobrovksy
Stolarz
Bruins lineup against the Panthers:
Heinen – Coyle – Frederic
DeBrusk – Geekie – Pastrnak
van Riemsdyk – Zacha – Brazeau
Lauko – Beecher – Maroon
Lohrei – McAvoy
Lindholm – Carlo
Wotherspoon – Peeke
Swayman
Ullmark
Starting it off for Boston, David Pastrnak put the Bruins in a 1-0 lead at 11:07 of the opening frame. Pastrnak scored on a power play from the right circle, firing a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky. Brandon Carlo extended the lead to 2-0 with 4:48 remaining in the first after Florida turned it over while they had been trying to clear the zone. Carlo struck from the point with a strong shot past Bobrovsky.
Anton Lundell cuts it to 2-1 late in the middle frame with 5:10 on the clock to begin the Panthers’ comeback after being down by two goals. He shot from the left circle, beating Jeremy Swayman short side on a one-timer.
Sam Bennett “scored” to tie the game 2-2 early in the third at 16:19 when he knocked in a rebound at the left post. He cross-checked Charlie Coyle into Jeremy Swayman, both falling to the ice, and the puck went in as Swayman had been unable to play his position. Boston challenged the play for goaltender interference, but it was unfortunately not a successful challenge. For the 3-2 final with 12:29 left in regulation, Aleksander Barkov beat Swayman blocker side while falling to the ice after keeping the puck in at the blue line and skating around David Pastrnak.
Charlie Coyle on his perspective of the “goal”: “The puck was in the crease, trying to make a play, and it goes through me. I feel a push from behind, I go down on ‘Sway’, and the puck trickles past.”
Jeremy Swayman on the game and Bennett’s “goal”: “I was very confident in our penalty killing, and I knew that we were going to get the job done and use that momentum. I think we did a great job with that. I’m very proud of the guys in front of me for sticking to the game plan and not getting phased,” – “I just think that we could’ve prevented that. The fact is, Coyle was pushed into me and I couldn’t play my position.”
Notes:
– Jeremy Swayman made a total of 38 saves for Boston.
– Boston will either make it to a Game 6 after Tuesday or unfortunately be taken out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
– An example of complete favoritism in this game: Morgan Geekie got a penalty for goaltender interference.
– In my opinion, Matthew Tkachuk should’ve been suspended due to hitting David Pastrnak’s head nonstop as he had fallen to the ice. A fact though, Pastrnak did win that fight.
– Sergei Bobrovsky made a total of 16 saves for Florida. Evan Rodrigues recorded two assists, and Anton Lundell recorded both a goal and an assist.
– Sam Bennett took a puck to the face, leaving in the third period. He had not been able to get stitched up in time to return.
– The Florida Panthers are 3-0 in their history when being in the lead of a best-of-7 series 3-1. The Bruins are 0-25 when trailing 3-1.
This series is just beyond ridiculous. I don’t even understand how the hit on Marchand wasn’t a penalty.
I don’t understand how hitting, Pasta, as he was falling and was on the ice, wasn’t a penalty or suspension.
I am just shocked at what we’re witnessing here.