Krejci Scores Off Berra's Gaffe, Lifts Bruins Over Panthers
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BOSTON (AP) — David Krejci scored after a poor clearing attempt by Florida goaltender Reto Berra, lifting the Boston Bruins over the Panthers 5-2 Saturday and helping them maintain an edge for a playoff spot heading into the regular season's final week.
Patrice Bergeron scored twice, Brad Marchand got his team-leading 39th goal and Noel Acciari also scored for the Bruins, who moved one point ahead of Toronto for third in the Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs played later Saturday.
Boston entered the day with a three-point lead over Tampa Bay for the Eastern Conference's last wild-card spot.
Jaromir Jagr recorded his 765th career goal and Thomas Vanek also scored for the Panthers, who lost for the 11th time in 15 games and were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.
Krejci capitalized on the gaffe by Berra, moving Boston ahead 3-2 with 5:30 left in the second period. The goalie came far out of the crease, but his clearing pass from the right circle caromed off the boards directly to Krejci, who fired the puck into the empty net.
Tuukka Rask, coming off a career-tying seventh shutout this season in his last start, stopped 24 shots.
Marchand sealed it with a power-play score in the final two minutes. Bergeron added an empty-netter.
The Bruins had moved ahead 2-1 on Bergeron's reviewed goal midway into the second. The center scored off the rebound of Zdeno Chara's one-timer while Marchand was inside the crease. The goal stood even though it appeared Berra couldn't get across the crease on the shot with Marchand there.
Florida tied it 2-all on Jagr's goal. The 45-year-old forward beat Rask over his glove with a wrist shot from the slot.
Acciari stole the puck from defenseman Jakub Kindl, broke in while he was being hooked by Kindl for a delayed penalty and took a wrister that slipped into the net off Berra to make it 1-0.
Florida tied it early into the second when Nick Bjugstad's shot from the point caromed in off the leg of Vanek.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Face Montreal on Monday to open a three-game homestand.
Bruins: At Chicago on Sunday for a nationally televised game that's slated to start at 11:30 a.m. CST before they play their final three regular-season games at home.
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