Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena — Courtesy: Shutterstock — YES Market Media
Losing streaks are not something these Boston Bruins are used to.
During the regular season, they dominated the NHL, setting a single-season record with 65 victories, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with a league-high 135 points, 22 points more than any other team, and outscoring their opponents by 128 goals.
However, a three-game losing streak, their second of the season, came at an unfortunate time after all that success. In Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday night in Boston, the Florida Panthers overcame the Bruins 4-3 in overtime to complete a remarkable comeback from a 3-1 series disadvantage. And they did it against some of the toughest competition in the 106-year history of the league: The Bruins outscored the Panthers by 43 points during the regular season.
After Toronto defeated Tampa Bay to win a postseason series for the first time since 2004, Boston had been so dominant that some Maple Leafs supporters gathered outside the team’s arena and chanted, “We want Florida.”
Their request was granted.
A left-handed shot from the right face-off dot through a screen by Matthew Tkachuk by Carter Verhaeghe, a player on Tampa Bay’s 2020 championship squad, ended the series.
An agitated Boston crowd began to boo as the Florida Panthers took a 2-0 lead early in the second period. The Bruins put up three goals in a row and appeared to be on their way to winning the game, but defenseman Brandon Montour forced overtime with his second goal of the game with just over a minute remaining, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled for an extra attacker.
The Bruins suffered the same fate as the 2018–19 Lightning, who shared the previous mark for single–season victories with the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings, by falling in the opening round. After losing to Columbus in a four-game sweep, that Tampa Bay team posted an apology to its supporters on social media. Only one of the four teams that managed to win at least 60 games in a season—the star-studded Montreal Canadiens of 1976–1977—went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The skill was spread evenly across the roster for this year’s Bruins, who were led by first-year head coach Jim Montgomery. At least 20 goals and 40 assists were scored by five different players. With career highs of 61 goals and 52 assists, talented winger David Pastrnak led both of those categories. He recently signed an eight-year contract extension.
With the highest save percentage and goals-against average in the league, Linus Ullmark was considered the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. When Ullmark wasn’t between the pipes, Jeremy Swayman was also turning in outstanding performances.
Boston reached 50 victories this year more quickly than any other team in history. But by the end, spectators at the TD Garden were making their way out as the Bruins lost the playoff series after leading 3-1 for the 28th time in NHL history.
Boston now has significant off-season questions to address. The team’s salary limit is tight, and two players from its most recent championship squad are unrestricted free agents: Patrice Bergeron, its 37-year-old captain and top defensive forward, and David Krejci, who had a goal and two assists on Sunday. To try to give those veterans one more championship, the team had united behind them.
Additionally, the Bruins do not have any premium draft picks available. They don’t have a first- or second-round pick this year, and due to a previous transaction, they might not have a choice until the fourth round of the 2024 draft.
The ice-cats were just one overtime goal away from having their season ended after being severely defeated in Game 4. They’ll continue to play, impossibly, instead.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
