The Bruins’ run as the Undefeated Killers came to an end Wednesday night, as the Panthers improved to 7-0-0 on the season by way of their 4-1 victory over the Bruins at Sunrise’s FLA Live Arena.
But before they surrendered four straight goals to the Atlantic-best Panthers, the Bruins started this game as well as anybody could have hoped. They hammered the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky for a heavy 15 shots on goal, and broke through when a Charlie Coyle shot from behind the net bounced off Owen Tippett and through Bobrovsky at the 10:37 mark.
Whatever works.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 27, 2021
Charlie Coyle scores from behind the net.
1-0 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/ZX3y69xWfS
But they didn’t beat Bobrovsky more than once in that opening frame, and it came back to hurt ’em.
In what was a five-shot first period for the Panthers, Sam Reinhart outworked Derek Forbort and Charlie Coyle along the wall in what was essentially a two-on-five, and fed Mason Marchment for the game-tying goal at 14:16.
And as the Panthers adjusted for the second period, the Bruins landed just two shots on goal. The Panthers, meanwhile, jumped out to a lead when poor net-front coverage gave Eetu Luostarinen an easy path to a goal. Now, the Bruins had their chances within that middle frame despite the mild shot total, too, with a breakaway bid from Erik Haula and a prime-area scoring chance from Brad Marchand standing out as their golden opportunities.
But Bobrovsky came through with stops on each, and kept Florida’s one-goal lead intact through two periods of play.
In search of a game-tying strike, the Bruins’ best look in the final frame came early, and on a two-on-one with David Pastrnak and Marchand. It’s the exact combo you’d want in that situation, but Pastrnak held onto the puck a bit too long, and to the point where Aaron Ekblad was able to step up on him and deny him even a pass to another shooter.
It was just that kind of night for the Bruins, and it got worse when Anthony Duclair took advantage of an overeager Charlie McAvoy and stormed into the Boston zone and tucked home a diving goal by a sprawled Linus Ullmark.
anthony duclair that was so nasty pic.twitter.com/BMwAVguz2j
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 28, 2021
It would by all means be the final blow to the Bruins’ hopes for a comeback in this contest, and it was Tippett who made it official with the last-minute empty-net goal to give Florida a three-goal victory.
Ullmark finished with 23 saves on 26 shots for his first loss in a B’s uniform, while Bobrovsky made up for a staggering 17 giveaways in front of him and finished with a 29-of-30 line in the Florida crease.
The Bruins will look to bounce back Thursday night against the Hurricanes.
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Bruins.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.