In Boston, Alex Lyon made 34 saves on Wednesday and the Florida Panthers defeated the Bruins, 6-3.
The win steals home ice for the Panthers heading to Sunrise on Friday for Game 3.
“Belief has always been there,” Florida;s Matthew Tkachuk said. “We knew it was going to be such a tough task, but to sit there and just give away the series at the beginning of it, that’s not how we roll. … We’re confident playing against anybody, and I know before the third, we were talking about, ‘You gotta win it here, eventually, if we’re gonna want to win the series.’ So, to come up with that effort in the third was really important for our team.”
The two teams came out of the middle frame tied, 2-2. In the third, Florida reeled off four straight goals for a 6-2 lead to put it away.
The Panthers were scoreless in three power play chances.
Brandon Montour wrapped a double around a single marker from Carter Verhaeghe for a 5-2 advantage in the third.
“I thought for the majority of the first two periods, we were doing really good things with the puck,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said. “But the turnovers we had tonight were catastrophic, they were right through the middle of the ice but not typical of the turnovers [we usually have]. … I thought our work ethic was there. I didn’t think our execution was great.”
Eetu Luostarinen then scored into an empty net at 17:35 for the 6-2 score.
“Matthew Tkachuk’s had a career year, Luostarinen’s had a career year, Verhaeghe’s had a career year, and all three of those guys have played with Sam Bennett for the better part of the year, and that’s his strength,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “He plays so [darn] hard and drives the play.”
Taylor Hall added a goal with less than two minutes left in the game for the 6-3 final.
The clubs skated to a scoreless first period before the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the middle frame on a marker form Sam Bennett at 1:42.
“It felt great,” Bennett said. “It’s always tough when you’re out for a while, and it was tough watching Game 1 from the press box, but it definitely felt great to get right back in it.”
Boston that got that one back on a shorthanded strike from Brad Marchand at 12:13 of the second.
“We tied it up there and I think we were feeling better about our game,” Marchand said. “I think with us, when we’re good is when we stick to the process, and we just got away from it a little bit tonight. So, a little bit self-inflicted in some areas, but we need to be better and they’re a really good team.”
Eric Staal put the Panthers back in front, 2-1, two minutes later.
Tyler Bertuzzi scored off the power play with three minutes left in the second to tie it, 2-2, headed to the third.
“There’s ups and downs in every series, and that’s just playoff hockey,” Boston’s Charlie McAvoy said. “So, take it for what it is and turn the page. And that’s it, just know we have to be better moving forward.”
The Bruins were 1-for-4 on the power play.
Linus Ullmark made 24 saves in the loss.
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