Bruins Bust Panthers In Game 1

     The Boston Bruins zipped by the Florida Panthers 5-1 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night. The Bruins, who lead the best-of-seven series 1-0, had a 4-0-0 record during the 2023-24 regular season against the Panthers. 

     It is the second straight year and the third time ever that the Panthers have met the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Cats came back from a 3-1 series deficit to upset the B's in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals last season. 

     Neither team were able to score in the first period. Florida moved in front 1-0 with 8:14 left in the second period. Aleksander Barkov got to a loose puck at the left point. He connected a cross-ice pass and Matthew Tkachuk snapped a shot from the top right circle past Jeremy Swayman for his fourth goal of the postseason.      

     Boston answered back quickly with the equalizer with 7:08 to go in the period for a 1-1 tie. David Pastrnak pushed the puck ahead from the high slot followed by a tip-in shot by Pavel Zacha that was saved by Sergei Bobrovsky. Morgan Geekie raced in and put in a forehand shot from the left of the crease for his third goal of the playoffs. 

     The Bruins got their first lead of the contest 2-1 with 3:43 remaining in the second. Zacha backhanded the puck from the left side. Parker Wotherspoon sent a lead pass from the left point. Mason Lohrei roofed a wrist shot from the low left circle for his first career postseason goal. 

     It became 3-1 for the B's with 20.6 seconds left in the period. Trent Frederic tapped the puck in the left circle and Charlie Coyle sent a cross-ice pass from the left wing. Brandon Carlo then released a snap shot from the inner right circle for his second goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

     In the third period, Boston extended their lead to 4-1 at 7:13. Lohrei backhanded the puck from his own end wall and James van Riemsdyk advanced it into the neutral zone. Justin Brazeau sprinted down the right side on a breakaway and slipped in a backhand shot from the crease area for his first playoff goal. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 4:54 to go. Luke DeBrusk would skate the puck up the ice and score an empty-net goal from inside the Panthers blue line with 3:22. It was DeBrusk's fourth goal in the playoffs.