Panthers Snap Skid in Wild Shootout Win Over Bruins
SUNRISE - The Florida Panthers needed this one. After dropping four straight, they clawed their way to a gritty 5-4 shootout win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night - and it didn’t come easy.
This game had a little bit of everything: special teams fireworks, a third-period collapse, a milestone win for Sergei Bobrovsky, and yet another chapter in what’s become a feisty rivalry between Florida and Boston.
Let’s break it down.
Special Teams Spark the Panthers
The Panthers flipped the script in the second period, scoring three goals - two on the power play and one shorthanded - to take control after trailing 2-1 following the first. It was a welcome sight for a team that’s struggled to find consistency on the man advantage.
Uvis Balinskis got it started, ripping a wrist shot from the left circle off a slick feed from Matthew Tkachuk. Just under two minutes later, Tkachuk cashed in himself, cleaning up a loose puck behind the goal line and banking it off Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo. That gave Florida the lead, and the building some serious energy.
Then came the dagger - or so it seemed at the time. With the Panthers on the penalty kill late in the period, Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell broke loose.
Reinhart fed Lundell, who buried a shorthanded goal to make it 4-2. It was Lundell’s second point of the night, and he wasn’t done.
Bruins Rally Late - Again
Boston didn’t go quietly. In fact, they did what they’ve done a lot lately: find a way to get points. They came into the night riding a six-game point streak, and extended it to seven by storming back in the third.
First, Charlie McAvoy’s shot deflected off Aaron Ekblad and then Mark Kastelic’s shoulder before sneaking past Bobrovsky. Just a few minutes later, the Bruins tied it up on their sixth power-play chance of the game, with Casey Mittelstadt cleaning up a rebound in front.
Suddenly, a game that looked like it was heading Florida’s way was tied 4-4.
Shootout Drama, Bobrovsky’s Milestone
The teams traded chances the rest of the way, but neither could break through in regulation or overtime. So, to the shootout they went.
Anton Lundell struck first in Round 1, but it was Brad Marchand - back in the lineup after missing three games - who sealed it in Round 4, giving Boston the extra point.
Still, for Florida, this was a much-needed win. Bobrovsky made 25 saves in the game and picked up his 450th career victory - an impressive milestone for the veteran netminder, even if he didn’t get the shootout win.
Injury Notes
Sandis Vilmanis left the game after a high hit on Charlie McAvoy in the first period and did not return. Head coach Paul Maurice said postgame that Vilmanis is expected to be available for Thursday’s game in Tampa.
Defenseman Toby Bjornfot didn’t play in the third period and is likely to miss the Lightning game. As for Marchand, he was seen in workout gear postgame and may not suit up Thursday either, though nothing is confirmed.
Scoring Summary
- 1st Period Panthers 1, Bruins 0 (4:22): Eetu Luostarinen capitalized on a turnover, beating Korpisalo with a high wrister. Bruins 1, Panthers 1 (7:18): Michael Eyssimont took advantage of a defensive collision and scored five-hole on a breakaway. Bruins 2, Panthers 1 (12:43): Eyssimont again, this time fresh out of the box, deked Bobrovsky and tucked it in.
- 2nd Period Panthers 2, Bruins 2 (0:30, PP): Balinskis fired home a wrister from the left circle. Panthers 3, Bruins 2 (2:22, PP): Tkachuk cleaned up his own rebound and banked it in. Panthers 4, Bruins 2 (18:33, SH): Reinhart and Lundell connected on a shorthanded rush.
- 3rd Period Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (7:52): McAvoy’s shot pinballed in off Kastelic. Panthers 4, Bruins 4 (10:30, PP): Mittelstadt buried a rebound on Boston’s sixth power play.
- Shootout Panthers 5, Bruins 4: Lundell scored in Round 1, Marchand won it in Round 4.
Three Stars
- Anton Lundell - Shorthanded goal, three-point night, and a shootout tally.
He was everywhere. 2.
Michael Eyssimont - Two breakaway goals in the first period kept Boston in it early. 3.
Matthew Tkachuk - A goal and an assist, both on the power play, helped swing momentum in Florida’s favor.
What’s Next
The Panthers head across the state to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night in their final game before the Olympic break. Tampa leads the season series 2-1, but Florida did notch a dominant 5-1 win in their last trip to Benchmark Arena.
After that, it’s a long layoff until February 26, when the Panthers return to action against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With the playoff race tightening and every point mattering, Wednesday’s win was more than just a morale boost - it was a statement that this team isn’t going away quietly.