3 things Boston Bruins did wrong in Game 6 loss to Florida Panthers

The Boston Bruins dropped a tight Game 6 to the Florida Panthers on Friday. The 2-1 defeat ended the Bruins’ playoff run that saw them eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.

While the Bruins played a strong game, they ultimately could not outlast the Panthers. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at three things the Boston Bruins did wrong in Game 6.

3 things the Boston Bruins got wrong in Game 6

#1. Offense dried up

Since scoring five goals in Game 1, the Bruins’ offense dried up. This trend was evident in Game 6 as the Boston Bruins were unable to solve Sergei Bobrovsky.

It’s worth pointing out that the return of captain Brad Marchand to the lineup did not provide the offensive boost the Bruins needed. Marchand had little impact on the ice, seeming lost at times.

While the Boston Bruins dominated the faceoff circle, winning 61.5% of the draws, they could not translate puck possession into goals.

#2. Powerplay wasn’t there

The Bruins went 0-for-2 on the powerplay, highlighting their offensive woes. The Panthers were able to kill off both penalties without allowing a shot on goal.

The Panthers’ penalty kill was tight, leaving little room for Boston to get anything going. The shots that were fired could not get past the Panthers’ defense. Those crucial shot blocks kept the game tied until Gustav Forsling scored the game-winner.

In hindsight, it’s clear that if the Boston powerplay had connected at least once, they could have tied the game. However, the powerplay did not click, leaving Boston with a single goal in the game.

#3. Stars didn’t show up

Lastly, the stars did not show up for the Boston Bruins in a crucial elimination game.

Marchand returned to the lineup but only mustered one shot. Sniper David Pastrnak registered five shots on goal but was a minus-1 in the game. As for top-line center Charlie Coyle, he had a quiet night, with nothing more than a single shot on goal.

As for top defenseman Charlie McAvoy, things didn’t go well offensively. While he did notch three shots on goal, he was a minus-1. He played his usual 25-plus minutes a game but could not generate the offense Boston needed to get past the Panthers.

The star that did show up was Jeremy Swayman. He gave up two goals on 26 shots, keeping Boston in the game for more than 57 minutes. Had the Bruins been able to score enough goals, Swayman’s performance would have been heroic.

Ultimately, Swayman was named the game’s third star, although his efforts were not enough to save Boston’s season.