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Boston Bruins

Bruins stunned in Game 7, lose to Panthers in overtime to end historic season early

By Matt Dolloff
Apr 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) reacts after a goal by defenseman Brandon Montour (62) to tie the game during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers have stunned the Boston Bruins.

Not long after setting records for the greatest regular season in history, the Bruins have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after just one round, falling to Florida by a 4-3 final in overtime of Game 7 at TD Garden. The Panthers came back from down 3-1 in the series to clinch it on the Bruins’ ice, tying Game 7 with just 59.3 seconds left in regulation then grabbing the game-winner in OT.

Carter Verhaeghe scored the series-winning goal for Florida, firing from the slot through a lot of traffic to beat Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

  • As we rewind to the first period…the Panthers drew first blood in this one, off the rush during a power play. It was Florida defenseman Brandon Montour who finished a give-and-go with Anton Lundell and backhanded it through Swayman’s five-hole to put his team up 1-0. Swayman got a piece of the puck on the way through, but not enough to stop it entirely.

  • Early on in the second period, the Panthers really put the Bruins in a hole. After a series of failed breakout attempts in their own zone, a turnover by Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm ended up on the stick of Eetu Luostarinen, who fed it to Sam Reinhart in the slot. Reinahrt then whipped it past Swayman to make it 2-0 Panthers.

  • After grabbing a much-needed power play, the Bruins followed up with a much-needed goal. And the man who scored very much needed the goal himself. It was David Krejci who fired from the faceoff circle to beat Bobrovsky short-side to cut the deficit in half.

    The teams would then hit the second intermission with Florida holding a 2-1 lead.

  • The Bruins were quickly able to turn the tide more in their favor just 55 seconds into the third period, as they finished off a power play that had begun late in the second. Bruins trade deadline acquisition Tyler Bertuzzi, as he did a lot in the series, was able to tip the puck in, this time off a deep shot by Dmitry Orlov.

    Bertuzzi’s fifth goal of the series tied the game 2-2, and TD Garden erupted.

  • Less than four minutes after Bertuzzi’s goal, beleaguered Bruins winger David Pastrnak was able to continue his recent hot streak. He scored his third goal in two games after burying a juicy rebound off the initial shot by Brandon Carlo. This goal was certainly the loudest that TD Garden has been since the start of the playoffs.

  • Unfortunately, with literally one minute left to close the Panthers out, the Bruins gave up the equalizer. With Bobrovsky pulled, Montour ripped a one-timer off a fortuitous bounce from a blocked shot, and snuck it through Swayman to tie the game 3-3.

  • Montour’s second goal set the stage for overtime, and Verhaeghe’s series-winner. The Panthers will now move on to the second round and face the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

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