Matthew Tkachuk scored at 6:05 in overtime and the Panthers beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Wednesday, which means there will be Game 6 Friday in Florida in this first-round series.
“We’re supposed to be down 4-0 in the series, aren’t we? Everyone said that? I don’t think anyone really gave us a chance after losing two games in a row, at home, and coming here, Tkachuk said. It’s as if the streak was over before the game even started… That’s how it is. We don’t want our season to end. »
Linus Ullmark fumbled behind his net, giving Carter Verhaeghe the chance to end the debate. Ullmark made the save but the drive went to Tkachuk, who converted the rebound and cut the Bruins’ series lead to 3-2.
“The puck ended up on my stick. I made sure to put it in the bottom, added Tkachuk. Bob made a great stoppage, otherwise our season was over… Things happen quickly in the playoffs. »
Sergei Bobrovsky made 44 saves, having been beaten by Taylor Hall, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
The Panthers also won in Boston on April 19, before losing twice to Sunrise.
Anthony Duclair, Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored the goals for Florida.
Ullmark stopped 21 shots for the Bruins, who came from behind 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the game.
Bergeron deflected a shot from Marchand to create a 2-2 deadlock at 4:33 in the third period, on the power play.
At 4:39, Jakub Lauko was penalized for hanging Tkachuk and 35 seconds into the penalty Reinhart gave priority back to the visitors.
Midway through the engagement, Hall leveled the score with a wrist shot from the slot.
Marchand spun alone in the final moments of the third period, but Bobrovsky made the save.
“I knew the puck was not going to go in, assured Paul Maurice, the coach of the Panthers, before admitting to a certain exaggeration. There’s no way of knowing it wasn’t going to fit, so I’m right when I tell you that. »
“But I don’t feel like we’ve had a lot of advantages in this series, in the karma of the game, Maurice insisted after Bobrovsky’s stoppage a second from the end sent the game into overtime . I felt we had stored up enough karma that that shot didn’t go home. »