Bruins vs. Panthers score: Live Game 7 updates as Florida tries to knock out Presidents’ Trophy winners
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After an historic regular season, the Boston Bruins find themselves in a do-or-die Game 7 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night. The Panthers extended the series with a 7-5 victory on Friday night, and they are one win away from sending the Presidents’ Trophy winners packing.
The Bruins won Games 3 and 4 in Florida to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, but things have unraveled since then, especially in goal. In Game 5, Goaltender Linus Ullmark made a critical mistake in overtime that allowed Matthew Tkachuk to score the game-winner for Florida.
In Game 6, Ullmark allowed six goals on 3.41 expected goals against, per Natural Stat Trick. Now, Boston is stuck between a rock and a hard place with a struggling Ullmark and a cold Jeremy Swayman, who hasn’t started since April 13.
The Bruins’ defense, which was the NHL’s best in the regular season, isn’t exempt from criticism either. They have made critical errors at key times, and players like Tkachuk have capitalized.
In the past two games, Tkachuk has given the Panthers life with a combined three goals and five points. His 10 points are tied with Brad Marchand for the most of any player in this series. Can Tkachuk deliver one more time in a Game 7 on the road?