Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images
The Boston Bruins wanted to come out with some passion after a fiery Game 3 against the Florida Panthers.
The Bruins were without captain Brad Marchand for the first time in 156 playoff games after he went down with an upper-body injury in Game 3, and players like Trent Frederic promised a response was coming.
That response did come early, but Florida got the crown jewel with a three-goal comeback to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
The Panthers take a 3-1 series lead and stun the Bruins in Boston 😧 pic.twitter.com/fRoseAh87V
Florida Panthers @FlaPanthers
COMEBACK CATS pic.twitter.com/faDlPcAr2N
Charlie McAvoy delivered the physical response on the first shift, taking Sam Reinhart down in explosive fashion.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
MCAVOY WITH A MASSIVE HIT ON REINHART 😱 pic.twitter.com/Ou3MrJJReo
However, a big hit wasn’t going to be enough to put a dent in the series deficit.
The Bruins needed to strike first, and a first-period power play gave David Pastrnak a chance to do just that as he unleashed a blistering one-timer to give his team the lead.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
PASTA GETS THE FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Zin5UnYUEC
Boston would build on the lead before the period ended, with a knuckle puck shot from Brandon Carlo finding its way to the back of the net to make it a 2-0 lead.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
IT’S KNUCKLEPUCK TIME FOR BRANDON CARLO 😱 pic.twitter.com/C8FUuHSx24
Florida was not going to bow down easily, however. This was proven when Anton Lundell fired a shot from the corner boards and beat Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
Florida Panthers @FlaPanthers
Blink and you’ll miss it! pic.twitter.com/UJKmy9pjzk
The Panthers would end the second period trailing by a single goal but would tie-it when Sam Bennett secured a powerplay tally early in the third.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
IT STANDS 😱
SAM BENNETT HAS TIED THE GAME IN BOSTON 🚨 pic.twitter.com/8BZuILIG3h
The Bruins would challenge the call but it would stand as a good goal. To say the Bruins fans accepted this ruling graciously would be inaccurate.
Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
Bruins PA announcer cautions fans not to throw anything on the ice and gets booed for it.
Minutes later, Aleksander Barkov gave Florida its first lead of the game with an excellent dangle and snipe.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
BARKOV DOES IT ALL HIMSELF AND GIVES THE PANTHERS THE LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TsTJQnjrmU
The Bruins failed to provide much momentum for the remainder of the game, and Florida coasted to the win and now have three opportunities to clinch a return to the conference finals.
Fans took to social media and declared that the Bruins don’t have what it takes to get by the Panthers.
Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
This is a pretty good gag job by the Bruins.
Don Hesto @don_hesto
The bruins are a brutal watch in 2024
Mark Ruggiero @markjruggiero
Bruins fans chanting “shoot the puck” is all you need to know
B @GoldenBruin13
Bruins just don’t have it. Florida 42 shots Bruins 18 lol, Embarrassing… Anyway. Go Celtics 🍀 pic.twitter.com/Ht1noLaFQ7
Rob @Smarty3385
Swayman deserves better. The Bruins stink though. Outshot 42-18 on home ice in a must win game.
Michael Magaletta @mikemagz07
Don’t get delusional Bruins fans, they will not be returning the favor from last season down 3-1 to the Panthers.
They’re onto 2024-2025.
Wilhelm “glasner apologist” Merck @MerckWilhelm
Getting secondhand embarrassment from this Bruins game
Adam Ginsberg @adam_ginsberg11
In the most important period of the Bruins season…
They have 2 shots. Two.
Why does this keep happening
Hallow_Bets @hallowbets
Bruins are absolutely disgusting to watch. How pathetic was this. Wtf
The Bruins will now have to attempt to come back from a 3-1 deficit to pull off the upset. That may sound a little familiar.
After a record-setting campaign a season ago, Boston held a 3-1 lead over Florida in the first round. The Panthers would famously win three straight and pull off a stunner before turning that momentum into a Stanley Cup Final appearance.
The chances of that happening for a Bruins team that has managed to get significantly outshot all series seems a bit unlikely. However, historical precedent says it can be done.
To attempt to make that run, Boston will need to first get a win on the road in Sunrise, Florida. That chance will come on Tuesday with puck-drop set for 7 p.m. ET.
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