Bruins' Game 6 loss to Panthers conjures up bad postseason memories
Once up 3-1 in their first-round series against the Florida Panthers, the Boston Bruins are only one loss away from watching their remarkable 2022-23 campaign go up in smoke.
Following Friday's 7-5 loss to the Panthers to force a Game 7, Boston has dropped two in a row to Florida in a slide that looks oddly familiar, and not in a good way for the Bruins.
In 2010, the Bruins found themselves in a similar situation, leading the Philadelphia Flyers three games to none in the second round. That year, the Bruins lost four straight to the Flyers and even blew a 3-0 lead in Game 7 to lose the series in the most excruciating way possible.
Choking away a three-game advantage 13 seasons ago certainly left a mark on the Bruins. However, after what Boston has accomplished this season, failing to get by the Panthers would arguably be an even worse collapse.
Days after losing Game 5, 4-3, following an overtime blunder by goaltender Linus Ullmark, another poor effort late in the game did Boston in on Friday.
Trailing Florida 3-2 through two periods, Boston took a brief lead after tallying the first two goals of the third. Unfortunately, they allowed Florida to score four of the following five goals en route to the Game 6 victory.
Shortly after Game 5 hero Matthew Tkachuk tallied his second goal of the game to tie things up at 5-5, Eetu Luostarinen scored the game-winner at 14:22 to keep Florida's season alive.
Entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Bruins were among the heavy favorites to win it all, but their record-setting season will come down to one game.
The Bruins will host the Panthers for Game 7 on Sunday, looking to avoid the ghosts of postseasons past.
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