Bruins Vs. Panthers Final Score: B's Scrape By In 3-2 Shootout Win

The last time the Bruins were involved in a shootout was back on November 25 against the Detroit Red Wings. Tuukka Rask was once again in net with a 2-2 game going into the shootout and lost.

Luckily for him, sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. The Bruins and the Panthers went through 65 minutes of play, tied 2-2 and both searching for two points.

Rask stoned the first two shooters, but in an uncharacteristic flop, let the third shooter, Stephen Weiss slide the puck in easily.

It seems appropriate that Patrice Bergeron was the third and final shooter for the Bruins.

Bergeron, who scored twice in the game, stepped up and beat Scott Clemmensen low to give the Bruins a fighting chance for two points.

Rask stumped Mikael Samuelsson and that's when David Krejci stepped up and scored five-hole to give the Bruins the win.

But the B's were lucky they were able to get to that point. Before the shootout, Rask had to face four breakaways throughout the game, and he only gave up a goal in one of those opportunities. In the second period, Panthers forward Shawn Matthias came out of the penalty box and got behind Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference. Caught off guard, Rask let in the goal.

36 seconds into overtime and the Panthers jumped into the play early. Patrice Bergeron got caught on his heels and was called for a hooking penalty which gave Florida some valuable 4-on-3 ice time. However, the Bruins were able to hold on long enough to kill that penalty.

Krejci was unable to extend his point-streak despite scoring the game winner in the shootout, and Bergeron's goal didn't count for a hat trick.

The Bruins won't receive much rest as they will play again tomorrow in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. Puck drops tomorrow at 7:30.

Bruins Vs. Panthers Score Update: Teams Tied 2-2 After Two Periods

Both teams found the back of net in the second period, and for the Bruins, there were more than six shots this period.

There was already an improvement at the start of the second period. Unlike the first where they only put up six shots on net--the third fewest shots in a period this season--four minutes into the second frame, they picked up four shots, while not allowing a single shot to Florida.

The Panthers got on the board when defenseman Jason Garrison took a shot from the blueline and after Rask made the initial save, the rebound came out, hit Bruins defenseman Dennis Siedenberg right in front of the net, and into the back of the net to tie up the game 1-1, 8:28 into the period.

But, with 6:14 left in the period the Bruins found themselves with a 5-on-3 advantage for 55 seconds. Tomas Fleischmann was sent away first for hooking. Not far behind him was Shawn Matthias who gave them the two-man advantage after being called for Delay of Game. With two seconds left in the 5-on- 3, Tyler Seguin literally skated around the entire zone and passed the puck to Bergeron who was waiting just above the net, and Bergeron tapped it in for his second goal this game.

The power play continued, but the Bruins were not able to capitalize on it again.

In fact, the Panthers were able to use it to their advantage, and as Matthias exited the penalty he skated on the breakaway and put it through Rask's five hole to tie the game up 2-2 with 4:06 left to go in the period.

UPDATE: Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski did not return in the second period and is out for the rest of the game with an upper body injury.

Bruins Vs. Panthers Score Update: B's Take 1-0 Lead, Despite Putting Up Only Five Shots

It wasn't a pretty first period, but it was enough to get the Bruins on the board and take an early lead very early into the game.

Just 1:20 into the first period, Patrice Bergeron found the back of the net after taking a pass from Benoit Pouliot. Pouliot battled through to keep the puck in possession and passed it back to Bergeron at the point, and before the ice had a few scratches on it, the Bruins took a 1-0 lead.

But it wasn't all easy for the Bruins, and goaltender Tuukka Rask was put to the test early. Almost midway through the period, the Panthers were outshooting the Bruins 8-1. One such shot came when Shawn Matthias came down the ice and broke through the defense to earn himself a breakaway on Rask. However, the Finnish goaltender seemed very calm in net and stoned him, keeping the score 1-0.

With 2:51 left in the period Bruins forward Daniel Paille took offense to a slash at his skates from Panthers defenseman Ed Jovanovski, so he dropped his gloves with him. Neither team had the upper hand in the fight, but both will be out at the start of the second period.

Bruins Vs. Panthers: B's Look To Avoid Rare Losing Streak Against Florida

After a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Boston Bruins (28-12-1) continue their road trip as they travel to face the Florida Panthers (21-14-8) at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (TV/Radio: NESN/98.5-FM)