Bruins-Panthers scorebug predicts game-tying goal

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) reacts after a goal by defenseman Brandon Montour (62) to tie the game during the third period in Game 7 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Scorebug from Bruins-Panthers Game 7 predicts game-tying goal

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 5/1/23

A graphic from late in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers on Sunday has fans freaking out.

The Bruins were leading 3-2 late in the game and a minute away from winning the series. Florida scored with a minute left to tie the game and send it overtime, where the Panthers won 4-3 to upset the Bruins.

But about 25 seconds before Florida’s Brandon Montour scored the tying goal, TNT’s scorebug flashed that Florida had scored a goal. Take a look:

WHAT DID THE TNT SCOREBUG KNOW??? pic.twitter.com/XcKnZIoxVO

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 1, 2023

Did TNT know Florida was going to score? Was there some sort of TV delay? Did the NHL script out a tie so the game would go to overtime? Was the fix in??? No, none of that happened.

What’s most likely to blame is someone at the controls was supposed to flash the graphic for “empty net” since Florida had pulled its goalie. Instead, due to a mistake, they flashed the goal graphic.

Florida happening to score 25 seconds later was a coincidence — a coincidence that will sting Bruins fans for years to come given the way overtime unfolded.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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