Bruins Applauded by NHL Fans After Keeping Season Alive with Game 5 Win vs. Panthers
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMay 15, 2024
Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images
The Boston Bruins are still alive.
Led by goals from Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy—along with 28 saves from goalie Jeremy Swayman—the Bruins staved off elimination and defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, 2-1.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceGEEKIE GETS THINGS GOING FOR THE BRUINS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xijVPCbbCU
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceMCAVOY GETS THE BRUINS LEAD BACK 🚀 pic.twitter.com/GSFdHwjNRx
Sam Reinhart scored the lone goal for Florida, while Sergei Bobrovsky was superb in net despite taking the loss:
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceREINHART WITH A HUGE GOAL FOR THE PANTHERS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qVPf3edSF5
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceBob with TWO huge saves ❌ pic.twitter.com/5AXdSgvLrk
The Panthers still hold a 3-2 advantage in the series.
But Tuesday night was all about Boston, and NHL fans and pundits alike were impressed by the resolve the team showed to keep its season alive:
Carla 💋🇮🇹 ︽✵︽ @PinstripedDiva#Bruins pic.twitter.com/aZDJ8OimfX
Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0What a battle. Bruins survive in Sunrise. Swayman incredible. We’re going 6.
Girls Club @girlsclubsportsHow about them Bruins?
Steve Goldstein @goldieoniceOnto Friday, game 6. Boston wins 2-1.
Both goalies excellent, Bruins did good job keeping Panthers away from slot, high danger areas.
Panthers will have to fight to get there.
Tough to beat a top team 4 times in a row.
grace @headvchesBRUINS AREN’T OUT YET BABY (still not getting my hopes up tho)
Jamie @Jamie_redsoxWe’re still alive #Boston we live to see another day 😏 #Bruins win game 5 💪 hope i live through these playoffs ffs!! 😆 Love it!!! #NHLbruins
Patcast @Patcast1543132The odds are stacked against them, the probability not favorable in a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs.
But as they say in sports, a win is a win.
Now it’s a 3-2 series, the Bruins are going back to TD garden and I couldn’t be happier. #NHLBruins
Boston Sports Sufferer @PFan177Starting my prayers early that the Bruins come out like that again in game 6🙏🏻🙏🏻
Lynch’s Locks @LynchslocksBruins babyyyyy
Colin #ALLINCELTICS ☘️ @BostonColin0BRUINS IN SEVENNNNNNNNNNNNNNN RAHH 🐻🐻🐻🐻
We might still be playing hockey if it wasn’t for one key moment in the waning seconds, however.
Swayman came up with the play of the game, sliding across his crease to deny Reinhart in the final minute, preserving the win and keeping Boston’s season on life support:
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIceSwayman came in clutch at the very end of the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hzCko82ZPF
Boston has had a fascinating postseason. The Bruins got out to a 3-1 series lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, only to lose the next two games. That set up a pivotal Game 7 at home, and the Bruins survived in overtime, winning 2-1.
Now, it’s the Bruins who are attempting to even the series after falling in a 3-1 hole. Normally, a home game would bring a level of confidence in that effort, though the Panthers already won both games at TD Garden this series and Boston is just 2-4 at home in the postseason.
But that’s the past. All that matters is that Boston’s season is alive for at least one more game, with the series resuming on Friday.
