Panthers Take Bruins And Series In Game 6

     The Florida Panthers eliminated the Boston Bruins 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on Friday. The Panthers won the best-of-seven series 4-2. It was the Panthers sixth consecutive postseason win in Boston. 

     The Panthers reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season and the third time in franchise history. They will visit the New York Rangers for Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. 

     It was the third time that the Cats have beaten the B's in a postseason series. Florida accomplished it in the 1996 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 2023 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and tonight. 

     Boston made it 1-0 with 52.8 seconds left in the first period. Parker Wotherspoon pushed out an outlet pass and Jake DeBrusk forwarded a blind diagonal backhand pass from his own blue line. Pavel Zacha skated through the middle of the ice on a breakaway and roofed a backhand shot from the top of the crease by Sergei Bobrovsky. It turned out to be Zacha's first career postseason tally. 

     In the second period, Florida tied it up 1-1 with 7:16 to go. Carter Verhaeghe made a poke check at the inner left circle. Anton Lundell placed in a forehand shot from the high slot past Jeremy Swayman for his second goal of the playoffs. 

     The Panthers took the lead 2-1 with 1:33 remaining in the third period. Lundell shot the puck from the above the left circle and it was saved. Gustav Forsling released a wrist shot from the low left circle for his second goal of the postseason. Matthew Tkachuk picked up the secondary assist on the play.