Lucic's Late Goal Helps Bruins Beat Panthers, 3-2
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
BOSTON (AP) — Milan Lucic scored the tie breaking goal with 1:09 left as Boston rallied to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 Tuesday night, giving the Bruins two valuable points as the try to hang on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Tuukka Rask kept the puck out during a final scramble at the buzzer with Florida on a power play and an extra skater for goalie Roberto Luongo.
David Pastrnak scored the tying goal midway through the third and had an assist when Lucic beat Luongo on a wrist shot from the slot as the game appeared to be headed to overtime.
Loui Eriksson also scored and Rask had 22 saves for the Bruins, who moved six points ahead of the Panthers in the late playoff push and maintained at least a three-point lead over Ottawa for the No. 8 seed.
Brandon Pirri and Brad Boyes scored in the second period to give Florida a 2-1 lead, and Luongo finished with 26 saves.
Rask withstood a late flurry by the Panthers in the final second. The horn sounded and the puck remained in the crease as Florida's Jimmy Hayes and Boston captain Zdeno Chara exchanged gloves to the face before they were separated.
Notes: Pirri has scored eight goals in 10 games. He was playing in his 100th career game. ... The Panthers wrapped up a five-game road trip and will play their final five games at home. ... The Bruins have five games remaining and just one at home, hosting Toronto on Saturday.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)