Bruins Wrap: Boston Snaps Five-Game Skid With 4-2 Win Vs. Panthers
It’s over. It’s finally over.
The Bruins snapped their five-game skid Saturday night with a 4-2 win against the Panthers at BB&T Center. Florida made it interesting in the third, making it a one-goal game after being down 3-0, but the B’s held on to secure their first W in five games.
Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci and David Pastrnak (twice) had Boston’s tallies, while Mike Pysyk and Keith Yandle accounted for Florida’s goals.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 30 pucks, while Sergei Bobrovsky turned away 38.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 21-7-6, while the Panthers fell to 15-12-5.
Here’s how it all went down:
STRONG FIRST
Boston came out of the gate strong and played its best first period probably of the season. The Bruins peppered Bobrovsky with 10 shots in the first six minutes of the game, but were unable to find the back of the net. That all changed, though, with 5:19 to go when DeBrusk was all over an Anton Stralman whiff, going end-to-end and wristing the puck past Bobrovsky for the 1-0 lead.
Career point No. 100. @JDebrusk | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/jYl7KPxDzR
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 15, 2019
The B’s took the 1-0 lead into the second behind 22 shots compared to Florida’s 11.
PASTA ADDS TO LEAGUE LEAD
After being held pointless in his last five games, Krejci finally got back at it early in the second period when Torey Krug fed his teammate the puck before Krejci one-timed it home from the high slot, narrowly trickling through Bobrovsky’s legs and over the line just 3:14 into the period.
This one had just enough.#DK46 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/24wtqabtMZ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 15, 2019
Boston got an insurance goal on the power play from the league-leader in goals when Brad Marchand beautifully fed Pastrnak the puck out front, who potted his 27th goal of the year to make it 3-0.
47 63 88 #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/m1Jqkxe29B
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 15, 2019
The Bruins played a solid 40 minutes and found themselves up 3-0 after two periods of hockey. They continued to outshoot the Panthers 31-22.
PANTHERS MAKE IT INTERESTING
The Panthers got some life about three minutes into the third when Pysyk scored after a desperate net-front scramble to cut in Boston’s lead 3-1.
Mark Pysyk and Co. CRASH THE NET HARD for a big-time goal! #FlaPanthers 1#NHLBruins 3
Watch the @FlaPanthers on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports Go : https://t.co/RikUEbSAP6 pic.twitter.com/x0GiR0idwF
— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) December 15, 2019
The B’s were awarded a Pastrnak penalty shot, but the winger missed potting his second goal of the game.
Sergei Bobrovsky shuts 'em down on the penalty shot! #FlaPanthers 1#NHLBruins 3
Watch the @FlaPanthers on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports Go : https://t.co/RikUEbSAP6 pic.twitter.com/ompj2TlVAT
— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) December 15, 2019
Florida made things interesting with 10:47 to go when Yandle went top-shelf from a the blueline to make it a 3-2 game.
Keith Yandle blasts one from the point off the pipe and IN! #FlaPanthers 2#NHLBruins 3
Watch the @FlaPanthers on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports Go : https://t.co/RikUEbSAP6 pic.twitter.com/dVoUhjMfhv
— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) December 15, 2019
The Panthers continued to fight to tie the game, but were unsuccessful. Pastrnak scored the empty-net goal with 2:10 left to seal the victory despite a late 6-on-4 in the final minute of the game after Boston was called for interference and Florida opted to pull its goalie again. But the Panther ultimately would come up empty.
UP NEXT
The Bruins will enjoy the next few days off before welcoming the Los Angeles Kings to Boston on Tuesday. Puck drop from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET.