Bruins Wrap: Boston Holds On Vs. Panthers In Game 5, Season Continues

The Boston Bruins kept their season alive, defeating the Florida Panthers, 2-1, in Game 5 of the second-round series from Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

The series heads back to Boston with the Panthers still leading the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston had a game plan in Game 4 that created a fast start.

The Bruins followed that start in Game 5, racking up shots at an early rate that they hadn’t all series. Morgan Geekie snuck a backhanded shot past Sergei Bobrovsky to opening the scoring in the first period and Boston outshot Florida, 13-4, in the stanza.

The Bruins had to show they could play that style for a full 60 minutes and got tested when Florida’s Sam Reinhart evened the score in the second period. Boston indeed had an answer as Charlie McAvoy found the back of the net and survived a goaltender interference challenge from Florida.

The Bruins benefited from such a scenario after losing all momentum on such a play for the Panthers in Game 4.

The teams traded power-play chances in the third period, particularly with Florida missing wide of the net on several chances to even the score. Both goaltenders did their part to keep the Boston lead at one into the game’s final minutes.

Florida pulled their goalie with less than three minutes to go. Reinhart had a decent look that Jeremy Swayman turned aside in the final seconds to seal the win and force Game 6.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Geekie’s second goal of the series put the Bruins on the board.

— McAvoy buried his first goal of the postseason.

— Swayman tallied 28 saves in the pivotal Game 5.

UP NEXT
The Bruins and Panthers meet in Game 6 on Friday at TD Garden. Time of puck drop has yet to be announced.