SUNRISE, FL.The Bruins have made a habit of winning some games perhaps they havent deserved over the last few weeks.
They allowed some breakaways and missed some offensive chances, but a David Krejci five-hole bid in the shootout was the difference-maker in a 3-2 win over Florida at BankAtlantic Center.
The Bruins took an early lead in the first period on an energetic Benoit Pouliot shift in the Florida zone that ended with the gangly forward disrupting the play, and helping set up a Patrice Bergeron blast from the high slot.
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The Panthers answered in the second period with a Jay Garrison blast from the left point that bounced off Dennis Seidenberg before ricocheting directly into the open net. The Bruins marched back with a power play goal from Bergeron again. This time it was Tyler Seguin wheeling the puck through the PP formation before he found Bergeron in the low slot for the easy goal.
But the Bruins immediately fell asleep on the continued power play. Shawn Matthias got behind Andrew Ference and the Boston defense after hopping out of the penalty box and beat Tuukka Rask with a five-hole bid to tie things up. Rask was tested with several uncharacteristic breakaways throughout the game, and turned away a Michal Repik bid in the final minute of the third period when he managed to sneak behind Dennis Seidenberg and Zdeno Chara. Repik missed the shot, however, and the Bruins managed to push the Panthers into the extra session.
The Bruins allowed four breakaway chances to Florida on the evening, and its pretty clear they still have some tightening up to do on the defensive end.