Panthers Surge Past Bruins In Game 3, Claim Series Lead

 

 Florida dominated with 4 power-play goals;Marchand left for Boston with an upper-body injury

"Panthers Take Charge Against Bruins in Game 3, Series Lead: Joe Pohoryles, NHL.com"

Bruins In Game 3      9:49 AM

BOSTON --  The Florida Panthers, Bruins , game- , abc news , report scored 4 power-play goals to take a 6-2 series lead over the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round at TD Garden on Friday.

After starting 1-for-9 on the man-advantage in Game 1-2 of the series, the Panthers went 4-for-6. They scored twice on a 4-minute double minor in the 2nd period. 

Panthers coach Paul Morris said at the time, "I was more excited about our power play than the numbers or at least the goals, our analysis of the expected goals on our power play was very, very telling. So, it's easy to say now, but if you can do the right things over and over again , then have a good night's sleep."

Game 4 of the best-of-7 series is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET; ABC can catch the action on MAX, truTV, TBS, SN, and TVAS.

In a commanding performance, the Florida Panthers, led by two goals from Ivan Rodriguez and 15 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky, secured the victory. Brandon Montour contributed a goal and an assist, while Matthew Tkachuk displayed his playmaking ability with three assists.

Tkachuk emphasized the team's cohesive effort, highlighting their strong skating, forechecking, defensive presence and teamwork. This comprehensive approach to the game has been instrumental in their success

Abc-news, Despite Jake DeBrusk's goal and assist and Jeremy Swayman's 27 saves for the Boston Bruins, the team fell short against the Florida Panthers. Bruins forward Brad Marchand exited the game in the third period due to an upper-body injury sustained from a hit by Sam Bennett in the first period. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged his team's slow start and lack of offensive production, emphasizing the need for improvement and a better game plan. The Panthers dominated the game, with Evan Rodrigues opening the scoring in the first period and Vladimir Tarasenko and Carter Verhaeghe extending the lead with power-play goals in the second period. Tarasenko highlighted the importance of capitalizing on power-play opportunities to build momentum in crucial moments of the game.

Brandon Montour extended the Florida Panthers' lead to 4-0 early in the third period with a powerful one-timer from the point during a power play opportunity. Despite the deficit, Jakub Lauko managed to score his first NHL playoff goal for the Boston Bruins, cutting the lead to 4-1 with a well-placed snap shot from the left circle.

Jake DeBrusk added another goal for the Bruins, making it 4-2 with a wrist shot from the left circle during a 3-on-1 rush. Despite the pushback, DeBrusk acknowledged the frustration of falling behind and emphasized the importance of managing it. The Bruins had a chance to narrow the gap further during a power play, but Dmitry Kulikov's crucial block prevented David Pastrnak from scoring, maintaining the Panthers' two-goal lead. Sergei Bobrovsky's strong goaltending, including four saves during the penalty kill, helped secure the victory for the Panthers.

 

Evan Rodrigues praised the Panthers' defensemen for their outstanding performance, noting their solid defensive play and assertiveness, which contributed to the team's success on the ice.

Sam Reinhart sealed the victory for the Florida Panthers with an empty-net goal at 18:36, extending their lead to 5-2. Evan Rodrigues then added another goal on the power play at 19:09, securing the 6-2 final score. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming game, emphasizing the team's commitment to their fans and the local community. In other news, Sam Bennett returned to the lineup after recovering from an upper-body injury, contributing with an assist. Matthew Tkachuk continued his impressive playoff performance with his third three-point game for the Panthers, tying the franchise record with Carter Verhaeghe. The Panthers' offensive prowess was highlighted as they became the eighth team in the past decade to score at least six goals in consecutive playoff games. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery provided no update on Brad Marchand's injury status, indicating that more information would be available on Saturday.