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Recap: Last-minute flurry gives the Bruins a 4-3 over Florida

It wasn’t going very well...until it was going REALLY well.

NHL: Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Streamables from Chris tonight, so if you don’t see them, it’s probably because you’re on mobile. Click the link at the end of each blurb to see the highlight.

Aleksander Barkov, who is very good, tips a point shot past Tuukka Rask on a second period power play to make it 1-0 Florida.

Another Florida power play, another Florida goal. Jonathan Huberbeau bats the puck out of the air to make it 2-0 Florida.

David Krejci and Danton Heinen combine for a nice passing play that’s finished by Krejci from a weird angle. 17th of the season for Krejci. 2-1 Florida.

In the third period, Patrice Bergeron tosses the puck on net on a shorthanded rush, and it beats Roberto Luongo to make 2-2.

With Tuukka Rask on the bench, Matt Grzelcyk rips a slapshot through traffic to tie the game with under a minute to go. 3-3 tie.

Charlie McAvoy was VERY HAPPY.

Just when you thought we were headed to overtime, Patrice Bergeron decided it was time to haunt Roberto Luongo’s dreams...again. 4-3 Bruins.

And that’s it! The Bruins win a 4-3 thriller, extending their point streak to 18 games.

Game notes

  • It’s not hard to tell from watching the games, but this is a close-knit group. After the game, Bruce Cassidy said that each guy on the team has the backs of his teammates, and the guys are genuinely happy for one another’s success. He noted that he’s been around teams where that isn’t the case, where individuals want the glory for themselves. Charlie McAvoy cited the team feeling like a family. SO MANY EMOTIONS.
  • Cassidy joked in his press conference that he didn’t know Matt Grzelcyk could get the puck that high off the ice. He said he gives him a hard time about it in practice.
  • Peter Cehlarik was given a bit more of a leash tonight, as he led all Bruin forwards in ice time in the first period. He looked dangerous with David Krejci, giving the Bruins something to think about while Jake DeBrusk is out.
  • Speaking of DeBrusk, Cassidy said post-game that DeBrusk may be ready Saturday or may be ready in a week, but that in either case, it isn’t projected to be anything serious.
  • I feel bad for Roberto Luongo at this point. He must see the Garden in his nightmares.
  • For long stretches, the Bruins played some of their worst hockey of this streak. Danton Heinen in particular was fighting the puck for much of the night. McAvoy had a few gaffes with the puck, as did John Moore. Still, they found a way to win.
  • David Backes noted that it can sometimes be tougher to play small minutes (10) than a ton of minutes, because you don’t get the same rhythm. He did say, however, that he feels like he has his legs underneath him, and that he feels that’s helped him get in on the forecheck more aggressively.
  • David Krejci was a monster tonight, wreaking havoc in the offensive zone on seemingly every shift. Cassidy shuffled the lines at some points, but it didn’t matter. Krejci was creating chances with Cehlarik, with Kuhlman, with Coyle, by himself...you name it.

The Bruins are back at it on Saturday night, when they host the Ottawa Senators.