The Boston Bruins have taken a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoff series against the Florida Panthers after a decisive 6-2 victory in Game 4. The Bruins were led by their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak, who combined for nine points in the game.
The Bruins opened the scoring early in the first period with a goal from Bergeron. Marchand added a goal of his own shortly after to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. The Panthers responded with a goal from Jonathan Huberdeau to cut the lead in half. However, the Bruins scored three unanswered goals in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the third period.
The Panthers managed to score one goal in the third period, but it was too little too late as the Bruins held on for the 6-2 victory. Marchand and Bergeron both had two goals and two assists in the game, while Pastrnak added three assists. Tuukka Rask was solid in net for the Bruins, making 28 saves on 30 shots.
The victory gives the Bruins a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and puts them one win away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs. The Panthers will need to win three consecutive games if they want to keep their season alive. The two teams will face off again in Game 5 on Saturday night in Florida.
The Bruins have been dominant so far in this series, outscoring the Panthers 17-8 in four games. Their top line has been especially impressive, combining for 15 points in the series. If they can continue to play at this level, they should have no trouble closing out the series and advancing to the next round.
