Trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, a win for the Panthers would force a decisive Game 7.
"We've been kind of do-or-die for a couple months, so it doesn't really feel any different," Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said following this morning's skate. "We're just thrilled to be in this situation and have another opportunity to show that we deserve to be here tonight."
Not backing down against the record-setting Bruins, the Panthers managed to get the series back to South Florida with an inspired performance in Game 5 on Wednesday at TD Garden.
After Anthony Duclair netted the crucial first goal to put the Panthers up 1-0 in enemy territory, the two teams traded scores as the Bruins erased three separate one-goal deficits. Refusing to back down, the Panthers firmly held their ground throughout the game despite being out-shot 47-25.
A big reason for that was Sergei Bobrovsky.
Shaking off a loss in Game 4, Bobrovsky was in his familiar Vezina Trophy-winning form in Game 5. Making the third-most saves in a playoff game in franchise history, he stopped 44 of 47 shots, including denying Brad Marchand on a breakaway in the waning seconds of regulation to force overtime.
"All the confidence in the world," Reinhart said of Bobrovsky. "To see how he works every day all season long, all summer long, it's no question he's comfortable in those kind of situations."
In the extra frame, Matthew Tkachuk provided the heroics.
After some strong forechecking caused Linus Ullmark to turn the puck over behind Boston's net, Carter Verhaeghe sent a pass into the slot that was deflected and ended up right on the stick of Tkachuk, who then fired a shot into the abandoned cage to lock in the 4-3 win for the Panthers.
"Just super excited," said Tkachuk, who leads the team in playoff scoring with seven points. "We live to fight another day. We stayed alive. Bob makes a hell of a save otherwise our season's over. Then we go out and we were able to score pretty early in overtime. Things happen fast in the playoffs, and now they've got to come down to Florida for another one."
While the Panthers have liked how they've played in the first period, scoring first on home ice will be key in Game 6. After all, the team that has broken the ice has gone on to win in each of the first five games of the series. In order to do that, they can't afford to get into penalty trouble.
Even though a lot of penalty issues come down to officiating -- especially in the playoffs when games are called differently -- the Panthers will have to do their best to keep play at 5-on-5.
Boston leads 3-1 in first-period goals, but two of those scores have come on the power play.
"We've liked our first five first periods," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "I think we've come out right and played a tight game. Our challenge is staying out of the penalty box in that period of time. We've liked the energy level."
Sam Bennett and Tkachuk did not participate in this morning's skate, but Maurice said both players are fine and will suit up in Game 6. Bennett has cracked the scoresheet in four straight games since returning from an injury, while Tkachuk has logged three multi-point games in the series.
Ryan Lomberg (upper body) has been ruled out for the remainder of Round 1.
At the other end of the ice, Bruins forward David Krejci spent this morning's skate wearing a yellow no-contact jersey and could potentially miss his third straight game due to an injury.
After missing the first four games of the series, captain Patrice Bergeron scored in his return to the lineup against the Panthers in Game 5. On a four-game goal streak, Taylor Hall has lit the lamp five times in that stretch. On the blue line, Dmitry Orlov has a point in four of five contests.
Between the pipes, Ullmark will get the start for Boston. Starting all five games in the series thus far, Ullmark has surrendered five combined goals in his three wins and nine combined goals in his two losses. As for the Panthers, Bobrovsky is expected to make his third straight start.
Make no mistake, the Panthers are well aware of Boston's accomplishments.
Sure, they set NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) during the regular season en route to winning the Presidents' Trophy, but this matchup isn't about 82 games. This is now about just one game and finding a way to get the series back to TD Garden for Game 7 on Sunday.
As everyone knows, anything can happen in the playoffs.
"When you've been behind the eight ball for so long and you've been trying to battle back and you've been seeing the results over the last couple months, it just adds to that belief and adds to your confidence as a group going forward," Reinhart said.
