Bruins Lose Wild Game 6 As Florida Ties Up Series

SUNRISE, Fla. – Despite twice battling back to take a lead in the third period, the Bruins dropped a wild Game 6 to the Florida Panthers, 7-5, on Friday night at FLA Live Arena.

After going ahead on Jake DeBrusk’s shorthanded tally at 10:22 of the third period, Matthew Tkachuk responded to tie the game on the power play just 27 seconds later before Eetu Luostarinen gave Florida a 6-5 lead with 5:38 remaining.

“It was that kind of game, where teams were making great plays offensively,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “We do have to clean up a couple of things. We didn’t protect the slot like we usually do, and they got three goals, minimum, from there that I can think [of]. And I’m talking 5-on-5, not the power play goals they scored.”

Montgomery lamented the Bruins’ inability to lock things down in the third after twice regaining the lead, given that his club was the league’s best in the final frame during the regular season.

“The interesting thing is, we were behind, and we did find a way to get the lead twice and that’s the disappointing part because we know how to close out games and a lot of it you have to give credit to Florida,” said Montgomery. “They beat us to our net, they hemmed us in, and we didn’t protect our net front like we usually do.”

Now, the Bruins must return home on Sunday evening for a decisive seventh game (6:30 p.m. ET on NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub).

“Disappointing,” said Jake DeBrusk. “But we work all year to get home ice advantage and it comes down to a Game 7 where we’re up for elimination now. It’s one of those things where we have the home crowd behind us.

“You just look forward. You’ve got to stay even keel and in the moment and take what you can from this game and do what you can to win the game.”

Video: Bruins Players speak with media after 7-5 loss in FLA

Sticking with Ullmark

Montgomery said that while he contemplated making a change between the pipes, he ultimately decided to stick with Linus Ullmark (six goals on 32 shots) and said he did not noticed any physical issues with the netminder.

“No, I think Linus is fine,” said Montgomery. “I looked at him in the eyes a couple of times when he came back to the bench, and I liked the way his eyes were looking. He looked intense and he looked keen.”

Boston’s bench boss said that the coaching staff would review the game and decide if any changes – in goal or otherwise – would need to be made for Game 7.

“I think we’re going to be consistent,” said Montgomery. “We’re going to review the game and we’re going to analyze everybody that played and if we think there needs to be a change, we’re going to make a change.”

DeBrusk added that the Bruins have “the utmost confidence” in Ullmark.

“He’s the reason why we’ve had so much success this year,” said DeBrusk. “It’s not even a question with us, to be honest.”

Hand Pass Ruling Proves Costly 

The Bruins appeared to be taking hold of the contest in the second period when they struck for two goals in a span of about three minutes – the first a sensational, through-the-legs marker from David Pastrnak (two goals) on the power play to tie the game, 2-2, at 5:42 and the second a Brandon Carlo wrister through traffic that put Boston up, 3-2, just under three minutes later.

Florida, however, challenged the play for an uncalled hand pass 10 seconds before the Carlo tally. After review, the officials determined that DeBrusk’s fingertip tapped the puck before Patrice Bergeron picked it up in the corner, negating the goal.

“I just have to think that it touched his glove,” said Montgomery. “I don’t think there was an intent to pass the puck, but if it touches your glove then it’s a hand pass.”

The Panthers took advantage of the break when Aleksander Barkov scored his first of the series to give Florida a 3-2 lead just 54 seconds later.

“I was kind of laughing about it. It was my fingertip or something….it is what is. They obviously looked at it and called it what it was,” said DeBrusk. “I generally agree with [the rule], but to have that go against us and then they score not even a minute and something later, it’s a tough two-goal swing there.

“I was just trying to get up, I wasn’t intentionally trying to pass it or else I would’ve gotten more wood on it.”

Video: Montgomery speaks with media after 7-5 loss to FLA

Wait, There’s More 

Video: BOS@FLA, Gm6: Bruins and Panthers go back-and-forth