The Boston Bruins won the first game of their second-round series with the Florida Panthers. And they did so in a rather emphatic fashion. However, they have fallen apart over the last three games. They lost Games 2 and 3 by wide margins . And thanks in part to Florida forward Sam Bennett, Boston is now on the brink of elimination.
The Bruins held a 2-0 lead for most of Game 4 on Sunday. But Bennett and the Panthers stormed back. In the third period, Bennett found some open ice and put home the game-tying goal. The goal didn’t come without its share of controversy, though. Bennett cross-checked Bruins forward Charlie Coyle, and Coyle collided with goalie Jeremy Swayman. Boston challenged the call on the ice for goaltender interference. After review, the call stood.
After the game, the NHL shared its explanation for upholding the Sam Bennett goal on Sunday night. Bruins fans were not pleased in the slightest. And they made sure to let their voices be heard once the explanation became public knowledge.
NHL defends Sam Bennett call, fans react
Bennett’s goal gave the Panthers major momentum for the rest of the game. It didn’t take them long to take full advantage of that, either. Florida captain Aleksander Barkov scored his fifth goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to give his team the lead for good. The NHL’s explanation of the game-tying goal was shared by former Boston Globe writer Amalie Benjamin.
Bruins fans did not like this explanation from the league. “That’s actually really crazy and will feed into a lot of conspiracies. Just objectively incorrect to anyone who has eyes,” one fan wrote on social media on Sunday night. “A very poor explanation and not in line with what actually happened,” another fan said.
Other fans disagreed with the essence of the explanation. They believed Swayman was inherently prevented from playing his position due to Coyle’s presence in the crease. “Ah, yes, the player crosschecked into the goalie did not prevent the goalie from playing the puck,” one fan sarcastically said on social media.
In the end, the Panthers now hold a 3-1 series lead. They have a chance to eliminate the Bruins in Game 5 in front of their home fans. And that would allow them to advance to their second straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Panthers forward speaks out
Sam Bennett spoke with the NHL on TNT crew after Game 4 on Sunday night. The Panthers forward addressed a few different topics during this interview. He spoke a bit about the Brad Marchand hit that led the Bruins star to miss Game 4. He said it was nothing more than a hockey play at the end of the day.
“Obviously I’m not trying to punch him in the head like everyone’s saying. Other people can have different opinions. I braced myself for him coming to hit me. There’s no way I would have time to think about punching him in the head,” Bennett said, via B/R Open Ice.
Liam McHugh asked the Panthers forward about his game-tying goal against the Bruins on Sunday night. Bennett defended his actions during this play. “On that one, it’s a little shove. I’m putting the puck in the net before Swayman’s gonna have an opportunity. Whether (Charlie Coyle) is in his grill or now, I believe I’m putting that puck in before he’s getting across no matter what,” the Florida veteran said, via B/R Open Ice.
This goal will certainly loom large over this series. Especially if the Panthers go on to eliminate the Bruins in Game 5. Fans can tune into that crucial game on Tuesday night. Puck drop is currently scheduled for 7 PM Eastern Time. And it’ll certainly be an intense game of hockey with Boston’s season on the line.
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