Thanks to a blunder by Boston Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark in overtime, the Florida Panthers live to fight another day.
Roughly six minutes into the extra session, Ullmark turned the puck over behind his own net, leading to a mad scramble in front, won by Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk, who netted the game-winner.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2023
Matthew Tkachuk keeps the @FlaPanthers season alive thanks to his @SUBWAYCanada OT winner! pic.twitter.com/3eR30WDLqV
After the game, Ullmark sounded ready to move on, telling reporters he had to have "the mind of a goldfish."
"Unfortunately, it hits my skate and ends up in the wrong hands," Ullmark said via Bruins Daily. "From there, it was kind of a situation where I couldn't get back into position, and, you know, he takes it by and puts it in."
Ullmark's teammates held a similar view of the situation. Patrice Bergeron called Ullmark a "rock," adding that Wednesday's loss wasn't on him.
"He can't be too hard on himself. He's a tremendous goalie," Bergeron said via Ty Anderson of 98.5 FM in Boston. "Probably the best goalie in the league this season. We're all here for each other."
Boston played from behind most of the game, trailing in all three periods. However, the Bruins came from behind to tie the game three separate times on Wednesday, including a goal at 9:16 of the third period by Taylor Hall, which knotted the game up at 3-3, forcing OT.
Taylor Hall. That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/olj6191dsi
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2023
The misplay by Ullmark late cost the Bruins, but head coach Jim Montgomery said the loss was on the team's failure to "start on time."
"I don't know why the last two games at home, we don't manage our ice or manage the puck. It's one of the two," Montgomery said via the Bruins. "When you're chasing the game like we did all night — you expend a lot of energy. I thought the energy we spent in the second and third trying to tie the game up; I didn't think we were sharp in overtime."
The Bruins were cruising entering the night, up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. But now, the series continues for a sixth game, Friday in Sunrise, Florida, at 7:30 p.m. ET., as the Panthers look to force a deciding Game 7.
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