BSJ Game Report, Gm. 7: Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (OT) - Florida ends Bruins season in heartbreaking fashion

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ season-ending 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the first round, with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Florida ends Bruins’ season in heartbreaking fashion: Carter Verhaeghe scored 8:35 into overtime as the Florida Panthers stunned the Bruins, 4-3, to put an early end to what many expected to be a deep playoff run after a historic season.

"Stunned" is simply at the top of the list of descriptions as the best regular season team in league history bows out to a No. 8 seed in the first round.

Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Montour had two goals. Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves. 

David Krejci had three points (1g, 2a) for Boston. David Pastrnak and Tyler Bertuzzi scored, and Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves.

The Bruins rallied from a 2-0 hole after Montour scored early in the first on a power play, and Sam Reinhart doubled the Panthers’ lead in the second off of more self-inflicted errors for the Bruins, failing to exit the defensive zone multiple times.

Krejci started the rally on a power play in the second before Bertuzzi capitalized on a power play redirect in the third to tie it. Pastrnak completed the comeback, one-timing a massive Bobrovsky rebound. But Montour’s second of the night sent it to overtime with under a minute to go, a horrid break for Charlie McAvoy as the puck ramped in off his stick.

TWO UP

Brandon Carlo: Carlo was (quietly) Boston’s best defenseman in this series. He had his typical sound defensive game, but his poise and activeness with the puck took a step up. He was rewarded on his shot-pass to Pastrnak after his miss on a semi-open net in the first and his goal was wiped off the board in Florida in Game 6. 

David Pastrnak: Pastrnak came through with the go-ahead goal in the third, delivering his fifth goal of the series. No. 88 had more chances throughout the game with 14 shot attempts (nine on goal) and 10 individual scoring chances (two high-danger). Boston was dominant with him on the ice, holding significant advantages in attempts (27-9), shots (17-2) and scoring chances (13-3, 4-1 high-danger). They outscored the Cats, 2-0, with him on the ice.

TWO ‘MEH’

Jeremy Swayman: It was a nearly impossible spot for Swayman to be thrown into, having not started a game since April 13. Despite a breakdown by Dmitry Orlov on Florida’s first goal, it was a soft one that he had to have after starting well. He refocused and had a strong evening, overall, despite the result with 27 saves. Stoned Tkachuk’s breakaway in overtime before making a big shoulder save on a 2-on-1 to keep the game going. Not sure he ever saw Verhaeghe’s shot right to the top corner to end it. Nevertheless, he gave his team a chance to win. All you can ask of a goalie.

David Krejci: Krejci had two golden opportunities to score right from the start in possibly his last game, but looked sluggish through most of the first period with lackadaisical decisions with the puck abounding, leading Boston in giveaways (four). Still, No. 46 carded a three-point night with a goal and two assists. His one-timer from the left dot sparked the comeback. Boston still outshot Florida, 11-3, and out-chanced them, 10-3, with Krejci on at 5-on–5.

THREE DOWN

Dmitry Orlov: Orlov was completely lost on the Montour goal to open the scoring. McAvoy had to move to defend Barkov at the wall, and Orlov failed to recognize Montour streaking up the middle. It obviously doesn’t help that Swayman didn’t make the save, but Florida ran the same play on a third-period power play, which Derek Forbort recognized and easily neutralized. He wasn’t sharp with the puck, a trait that killed the entire defense throughout the series.

Hall-Coyle-DeBrusk: The Bruins’ third line could hardly get anything going, but when it did, the trio passed up too many shots. The Panthers outplayed them significantly in 11:42 of ice-time at 5-on-5, out-attempting them 12-4, outshooting them 7-3 and out-chancing 7-3. After strong series overall for all three, some of Boston’s most important depth pieces couldn’t deliver. 

Garnet Hathaway: Hathaway was a standout among Bruins skaters who looked shaken after Florida opened up a 2-0 lead. He failed to clear the puck at the point before Reinhart’s goal, allowing Florida to keep Boston hemmed in. On one of his next shifts, he shanked a dump-in into the Boston bench, serving as a microcosm of the simple plays or passes that the Bruins just couldn’t execute. The physical element felt nowhere to be found in a game where it could have had a critical impact, although he did register two hits. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

Pastrnak’s go-ahead goal in the third period was a perfectly executed shot for a rebound off the pads by Carlo. Felt like that set the Bruins back on course. 

Give credit to Verhaeghe. This was a dart.

LOOSE PUCKS

Patrice Bergeron, who said he will take some time with his family before determining his future, said he was playing through a herniated disc in his back. After the handshakes ended, Bergeron led the Bruins in saluting the remaining crowd and embraced each skater as they headed off the ice before one final salute. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The season has come to a close for the Bruins. They’ll hold their “break-up” day at  Warrior Ice Arena in the coming days.