\u201cWe get up and we play well against playoff-caliber teams,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cIt\u2019s a style of hockey that we\u2019ve been used to playing, so I think we just get up for those games well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cutting the deficit in half for the Bruins just before the intermission, Fraser Minten found a loose puck right outside the blue paint and fired it past Sergei Bobrovsky to make it 2-1 at 19:33.<\/p>\n
In the second period, neither team touched twine.<\/p>\n
Still, the Panthers looked to be in control.<\/p>\n
In addition to leading 12-5 in shots on goal in the middle frame, the Panthers would\u2019ve padded their lead if not for two big stops from Swayman on two shots from the doorstep.<\/p>\n
Early in the third period, Bobrovsky decided it was his turn to show off in net. Keeping the Bruins off the board, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner made a flurry of saves on shots from in tight, including laying out to rob David Pastrnak on a shot from the right side of the cage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s vintage Bobby right there,\u201d Bennett said of his goalie. \u201cHe stood on his head and made some unbelievable saves. That\u2019s what he does. Not the first time we\u2019ve seen that.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the Bruins pulled Swayman late in regulation \u2013 including having a stretch of a 6-on-4 advantage while on the power play \u2013 the Panthers managed to keep them off the board.<\/p>\n
Making save after save, Bobrovsky generated 2.72 goals saved above expected in the third period, per NaturalStatTrick.com.<\/p>\n
Even with roughly half a roster on the injured list, the Panthers showed they still have claws.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey came out right the last two games, ready to play and excited to play,\u201d head coach Paul Maurice said. \u201cThe bench was energetic. They\u2019re not just going through the motions. They played hard and deserved to win the game, especially with the adversity we faced coming into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
THEY SAID IT<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good hockey game. It was very fun. Winning is fun, too. It\u2019s great to be there with the guys. We have lots of young faces that stepped up.\u201d \u2013 Sergei Bobrovsky<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we were just playing simple. On the breakouts and on the forecheck, we were just sticking with what we were doing, and that recipe worked. It was simple, but good.\u201d \u2013 Mackie Samoskevich<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know when your goalie is playing like that, you always have a chance to win. I love playing in front of Bobby.\u201d \u2013 Sam Bennett<\/p>\n
CATS STATS<\/p>\n
– The Panthers have scored seven first-period goals over their last two games.<\/p>\n
– Sergei Bobrovsky made 10 high-danger saves, per NaturalStatTrick.com.<\/p>\n
– Tomas Nosek won a team-high eight faceoffs.<\/p>\n
– Gustav Forsling saw a team-high 27:13 of ice time.<\/p>\n
– Eetu Luostarinen had a team-high three blocked shots.<\/p>\n
– Florida and Boston had an equal number of his (22-22) and blocked shots (18-18).<\/p>\n
WHAT\u2019S NEXT?<\/p>\n
Time to pack the bags one last time.<\/p>\n
Kicking off their final road trip of the season with a back-to-back in the Burgh, the Panthers will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n