Record season, early elimination for the Boston Bruins

UPDATE DAY

The Bruins always said that their record season of 65 wins and 135 points would be judged by their playoff run. This magical season just fell through. 

The Florida Panthers defied logic by eliminating Boston in seven games in the first round of playoffs. Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 overtime win at TD Garden on Sunday. 

“There's no one in the world who believed you could do it,” winger Matthew Tkachuk said in an on-ice interview with Sportsnet. I missed a chance early in overtime, but we found a way to win.”

Tkachuk, who had a phenomenal streak, missed a breakaway in the opening seconds of the extension. He redeemed himself fairly quickly by getting an assist on Verhaeghe's decisive goal. 

With 92 points, the Panthers finished the season eighth in the Eastern Conference, clinching their ticket in the final days of the schedule. They had scored 43 points less than Boston. 

To recycle an old cliché, the playoffs always represent a new season. Jim Montgomery and the Bruins cruelly realized it. 

Like Tampa

The rapid elimination of the Bruins strangely resembles that of the Lightning in the spring of 2019. Four years ago, the Tampa Bay had equaled the record of the Detroit Red Wings (1995-1996) with 62 victories. But the Columbus Blue Jackets had erased that glorious season by eliminating them in the first round of the playoffs with a sweep in four games. 

Sergei Bobrovsky was the Blue Jackets goaltender at that time. Ironically, the Russian contributed to yet another victory for David against Goliath. This time, he was wearing the Panthers jersey. 

Bergeron's sadness

There was a very strong image at the end of the meeting. Like last season, after the elimination of his team in seven   games in the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes, Patrice Bergeron greeted each of his teammates before entering his team's locker room. < /p>

He had his eyes in the water when he hugged his longtime accomplice, Brad Marchand.

The Quebecer revealed to colleagues on site in Boston that he was playing despite a herniated disc.

This scene will revive the debate on whether the Bruins captain could draw an X on a wonderful career. Aged 37, Bergeron is one of the greats in the history of this concession. But if he chose to retire, he would leave on a bad note. 

Injured for the first four games of the series, Bergeron only participated in three games against the Panthers. Three games the Bruins lost. 

Montour twice

The Bruins led this series 3 to 1. They also had control of their destiny with a 3-2 lead late in the third period in Game 7. 

Brandon Montour, however, upset the plans by scoring the tying goal with 60 seconds left in the third period. The Panthers defenseman hit the target twice against Jeremy Swayman who received a vote of confidence from Montgomery for this ultimate game.  

P4

3First period1-Flo: Brandon Montour (4)(Lundell, Bobrovsky)AN-12:23Penalties: Cousins ​​(Flo) 5:24, Marchand (Bos) 7:18, Hall (Bos) 10:30, Bennett (Flo) 11:33, Carlo (Bos) 11:33 Second period2-Flo: Sam Reinhart (4)(Luostarinen, Lundell)1:14
3-Bos: David Krejci (1)(Orlov , Zacha)AN-7:52Penalties: Staal (Flo) 6:03, Montour (Flo) 15:34, Montour (Flo) 19:14 Third period4-Bos: Tyler Bertuzzi (5)(Orlov, Krejci )AN-0:55
5-Bos: David Pastrnak (5)(Carlo, Krejci)4:11
6-Flo: Brandon Montour (5)(Barkov, Verhaeghe)19:00Penalties: McAvoy (Bos ) 10:48 OT7-Flo: Carter Verhaeghe (2)(Bennett, Tkachuk)8:35Penalties: No penaltyShooting Florida 11 – 5 – 10 – 5 – 31Boston 9 – 13 – 9 – 5 – 36Goalkeepers:< /b>Flo: Sergei Bobrovsky (G, 3-1) Bos: Jeremy Swayman (P, 0-1)Numerical Perks:Flo: 1 for 3, Bos: 2 for 4Referees:Steve Kozari, Chris Lee Linesmen:David Brisebois, Jonny Murray ASSISTANCE:17,850