RECAP: Montour scores twice as Cats win Game 2 to even series with Bruins

BOSTON --We're all square after two games in Round 1.
Taking what they learned during a hard-fought loss in Game 1 off their best-of-seven series on Monday, the Panthers scored four goals in the third period to secure a massive 6-3 win over the Bruins at TD Garden in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Following two games in Boston, the series will now shift to South Florida for Games 3 and 4.

"In a perfect world it would've been great to steal two, but after Game 1 this was all that was on our mind," said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk. "We've put ourselves in a position where we have home ice right now, and it's about hanging on to it as long as possible."
As it was in Game 1, the Panthers got into some penalty trouble in the period. But unlike Game 1, they managed to escape unscathed this time around. Successfully killing off a pair of power plays for the Bruins, the Panthers kept the game scoreless after the first 20 minutes.
Despite being on their heels a bit early on, the Panthers also had the two best scoring chances in the first period. First, it was Eetu Luostarinen being robbed on a backhand from on top of the crease. Later, Linus Ullmark sprawled out to rob Aleksander Barkov on a shorthanded chance.
On Barkov's attempt, he appeared to be hook, but no call was made.
In the second period, the Panthers opened the scoring when Tkachuk kept the puck in the zone and pushed it ahead to Sam Bennett. Just barely able to settle down the biscuit, Bennett then sent the puck -- and also himself -- into the cage while falling to the ice to make it 1-0 at 1:42.

Back in action for the first time since March 20 due to an injury, Bennett was stellar in his return to the lineup.
"It felt great," said Bennett, who saw 16:15 of ice time in the win. "It's always tough when you're out for a while. It was tough watching Game 1 from the press box. It felt great to get right back in there."
Capitalizing off a turnover by the Panthers, Brad Marchand swiped a puck in the offense zone and fired it over Alex Lyon's glove from the slot for a shorthanded goal to make it 1-1 at 12:13.
Putting the Panthers back on top, Eric Staal beat Ullmark with a snipe from the slot to make it 2-1 at 14:18. Less than three minutes later, the Bruins got the deadlocked again when Tyler Bertuzzi re-directed a shot from Pavel Zacha past Lyon on the power play to make it 2-2 at 17:01.
Picking the perfect time to score the first playoff goal of his NHL career, Brandon Montour, with the action at 4-on-4, took a pass from Sam Reinhart and beat Ullmark with a shot from the point to put the Panthers on top 3-2 just 22 seconds into the third period.

With the second line continuing to cook, the Panthers added an insurance goal when, after a big hit from Bennett separated a Bruins player from the puck, Tkachuk scooped up the rubber and set up Carter Verhaeghe for a snipe from the left circle to make it 4-2 at 7:00.
Sending many fans to the exits, Montour buried a slap shot from the point to make it 5-2 at 12:30.
"We just kept on the gas," Montour said. "They're a heck of a team, so you don't want to let up. I don't think we did. We got a nice goal to start and we just kept building on that."
After Luostarinen cashed in on an empty net to extend Florida's lead to 6-2 at 17:35, Taylor Hall squeaked in a shot to make it 6-3 at 18:50. Earning the first playoff win of his NHL career, Lyon, who's been Florida's late-season unsung hero, finished with 34 saves on 37 shots.
In the opposing crease, Ullmark surrendered five goals on 29 shots.
"It was fun," Lyon said. "I really enjoy playing in that atmosphere. It's fun for me. I get energized. It was just a good time. I'm happy we got the win. Very talented, very good opponent. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. I think that's where our focus has to be."

CATS QUOTES

"You can't get too far behind anybody, certainly not a team like the Boston Bruins with the season they've had this year. You build a little belief in each game. That's what we're trying to do. We'd be more than happy to play seven of them. We'd be fine with that. Grind it as hard as we can for as long as we can." -- Paul Maurice on getting the series to 1-1
"Belief is definitely there. The belief has always been there. We knew it was going to be such a tough task. To sit there and just give away the series at the beginning of it, that's not how we roll."-- Matthew Tkachuk on Florida's response in Game 2
"Everyone expected that. He's a dangerous player, especially in the playoffs. He plays the right way. He plays hard. It was great to see him back." -- Brandon Montour on Sam Bennett showing no signs of rust in his return

CATS NOTES

• When tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven series, Florida has won the series three of six times.
  - Brandon Montour's two goals are tied for the most ever by a Panthers defenseman in a playoff game.
  - Aaron Ekblad led the Panthers with four blocked shots.
  - Matthew Tkachuk and Nick Cousins each registered two assists.
  - Aleksander Barkov went 11-for-16 (68.8%) in the faceoff circle.
  - The Panthers led 8-5 in high-danger shot attempts at 5-on-5.
  - Alex Lyon made seven high-danger saves, per NaturalStatTrick.com.

WHAT'S NEXT?

With the series now shifting to South Florida, Panthers will look to put on a show for their home fans when they host the Bruins at FLA Live Arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
For tickets, click
HERE
.