The Panthers progressed to the ice hockey Eastern Conference finals, where they will face the New York Rangers. The first game is scheduled for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Gustav Forsling netted the decisive goal on a rebound with 1:33 remaining, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves for the Florida Panthers to overcome the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Friday night, clinching their second-round playoff series in six games.
Anton Lundell scored for the Panthers and also assisted on the game-winner when his shot deflected to the left side of the net. Forsling capitalised and defeated Jeremy Swayman. The Panthers, who also ousted the Bruins after their record-breaking regular season last year, secured victories in all three games played in Boston.
Swayman made 26 saves for the Bruins. Pavel Zacha scored to give Boston a 1-0 lead late in the first period, but they couldn’t find a way past Bobrovsky again.
The Bruins welcomed back captain Brad Marchand after he missed two games due to an injury thought to be a concussion. The longest-serving player on the roster received a significant ovation during introductions but did not contribute to the scoring.
Boston took the lead with a minute left in the first period when Jake DeBrusk executed a no-look backhander.
