Panthers Fall Late in Close Game To Bruins

SUNRISE — Pavel Zacha scored the game winner with 2:21 remaining in regulation as the Bruins defeated the Panthers  4-3 in Sunrise —  jumping Florida for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak and Trent Frederic also scored for the Bruins as the team improved to 42-16-15 on the season.

Jeremy Swayman had 18 saves in what was his 23rd win of the season.

Florida held three separate leads in the game, but the Bruins kept the game close and rallied in the final minutes of regulation — scoring two  unanswered goals in the final 4:22 on Tuesday. 

“We’ve got to find a way to protect it (the lead),” Pnthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “I think it’s a good learning experience for us. Do what we can and get ready to gear up a little bit.”

Neither team shied away from the same intensity they showed each other in last season’s first-round of the playoffs.

The two sides went back and forth all night, whether that was exchanging goals, punches or penalties.

“I liked our game tonight,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “That’s four and six for us (all lines going). That’s tough and it was a heavy cost to each shift… I don’t mind a little bit of that sour taste right now. A little bit of hunger, a little bit of anger. It keeps them more focused.”

Despite still being the regular season, Tuesday night’s game felt more like a playoff game than anything and with top seed in the division and clinching scenarios on the line, that made sense. 

“They’re a good team too,” Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen said. “I think it was a good battle. Obviously the intensity was there… so we go from there.”

Evan Rodrigues scored 27 seconds into the game, Sam Reinhart picked up his 51st goal of the season and Carter Verhaeghe got his 33rd in the Panthers’ loss. 

Aleksander Barkov (lower-body) and Gustav Forsling (illness) both returned to the lineup for the Panthers after missing the team’s two-game over the weekend. 

“The guys in the medical room, they got me ready for this game,” Barkov said. “I felt pretty good physically.”

Both teams had an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot tonight, depending on a few outcomes of the out of town games, however, neither ended up clinching. 

It’s only a matter of time for both teams to officially punch their ticket to the first-round — most likely seeing that comer later in the week. 

Florida still remains near the top of the Eastern conference standings with 10 games remaining. They trial Boston by two points for first in the Atlantic. They’ll meet again one more time before the post season.