So, in the “what the heck just happened” department, the Florida Panthers posted a four-goal third period in Boston to force extra time, and then defeated the Bruins, 5-4, after skills presentation.
“Well that was the improbable one, didn’t expect to do that one,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. “We were fine, it was 0-0 (after the first period), and then we lost our composure and we gave up four quick ones (in the second period), so we weren’t happy with the way basically the whole second period went.
“Scoring early in the first shift of the third gave us obviously a little bit of a lift there, and we got a little excitement off of it and the power play came up with a couple big ones and you know, finding a way to win it.”
Keith Yandle scored with under two minutes left in regulation to get the teams even.
That third period outburst by Florida was needed because Boston posted four goals of their own in the middle frame.
Sergei Bobrovsky got the start for the Panthers, but was given the hook in the second intermission.
Sam Montembeault faced 15 shots in 25 minutes and then stopped three of four in the skills portion of the evening.
David Pastrnak, Joakim Nordstrom, Anders Bjork, and Zdeno Chara rang up the strikes in the second period.
“We definitely should be capable of [closing out the game],” Chara said. “… Obviously in the third, we gave them too much space and time, and anytime you do that, the teams will take advantage of that.”
Aaron Ekblad got the rally going with a goal at 50 seconds of the third period.
Frank Vatrano and Mike Hoffman cut the deficit to 3-4 before Yandle scored with the extra attacker.
“We know we can score goals,” Hoffman said. “That was kind of our thing going into the third. We knew if we could chip away, maybe we could tie it up, and luckily enough we did.”
Vincent Trocheck and Hoffman scored in the skills competition for the Panthers.
[WATCH: All Panthers vs. Bruins highlights]
Tuukka Rask made 25 saves in the loss.
“I should’ve been sharper in that third period, a couple soft goals and I let the [other] team get some momentum,” Rask said. “But it’s a 60-minute game, we’ve been on the other side, you know, kind of you never give up, and that’s how teams build character. So good for them, I guess. But yeah, it’s a 60-minute game, and I’m sure a lot of it’s mental. But I definitely take most of the blame on that third period.”
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