Panthers come from behind to take Game 4 vs. Bruins
The Florida Panthers stayed relentless in Game 4 on Sunday against a motivated Boston Bruins team playing without injured captain Brad Marchand. They weathered the storm early before overcoming a two-goal deficit, winning 3-2 while climbing within a win of ending the series.
The Bruins gained a 2-0 lead after two first-period goals, with the Panthers grabbing one back before the end of the second. However, the turning point came early in the third period when Florida tied the game 2-2 following a controversial goal.
Sam Bennett scored on the power play at 3:41 of the period, but the Bruins challenged the play , contending that the Panthers forward had cross-checked Charlie Coyle into netminder Jeremy Swayman, preventing him from making a save. However, after a review, officials on the ice and in the situation room in Toronto acknowledged the contact but ultimately ruled that no goaltender interference occurred.
The Panthers failed to capitalize on the ensuing power play following the Bruins' unsuccessful challenge, but the call going Florida's way changed the momentum. Only three minutes and 31 seconds later, Aleksander Barkov netted the go-ahead and eventual game-winner.
The Bruins were vocal about Bennett's hit on Marchand in Game 3, which prevented him from playing on Sunday, especially after a new angle of the incident emerged. However, they're bound to have more to say following the team's failed challenge of his sketchy game-tying goal in Game 4.
Nevertheless, Boston essentially has itself to blame for being only a loss away from elimination. The Bruins came out with a lot of energy in Game 4 but failed to mount consistent offensive pressure, often searching for the perfect pass instead of putting pucks on net. Meanwhile, after gaining a two-goal lead, they were unable to pull away, failing to cash in on dangerous chances they did create throughout the game.
The Panthers outshot the Bruins 42-18 and 14-2 in the third period. Likewise, Boston was just 1-of-4 on the power play, with their lone tally with the man advantage coming on the game's opening goal.
For the Bruins, it's the first time they've lost a game this postseason when leading by multiple goals, falling to 4-1. Conversely, rewarded for staying the course in Game 4, the Panthers head home feeling good with the chance to close Boston out on Tuesday in Game 5.
More must-reads: