One Big Takeway From Bruins’ Much-Needed Win Over Panthers

The Bruins didn’t play their best hockey of the season, but they needed to win Saturday afternoon.

Florida out-shot Boston 42-to-17. However, The B’s earned two points with a 4-3 overtime win over the Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

The Black and Gold entered Saturday on a six-game losing streak. The win over the Panthers was the first time they scored more than one goal since last Sunday, and it was the first time they didn’t give up more than four goals since Jan. 2.

All of that makes it sound like Saturday was a moral victory. It might have been, but sports is a results-based business, and Joe Sacco’s side got the result they needed. The Bruins need to rack up as many points as possible before the 4 Nations Face-Off, especially with other teams in the Eastern Conference that have more games to play than them. Boston needs to do what it must to clinch a playoff spot, and a physical win over an Atlantic Divison rival could be the start of a run.

Saturday’s win also could serve as a confidence booster for Jeremy Swayman. Sam Reinhart shocked the B’s when a knuckler passed by the netminder and defenseman Jordan Oesterle. But it still was a phenomenal effort to keep the Bruins in the game and allow his team to compete with the Panthers in a dramatic overtime period.

The Bruins only had three wins when out-shot by an opponent — the fewest in the NHL. However, Boston showed Saturday it still has the fight in it even when Florida took the momentum heading into overtime.

Boston’s mom’s trip concluded Saturday as the Bruins head back to TD Garden to face the Tampa Bay Lighting on Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled at 7 p.m. ET on NESN.