The Boston Bruins force a game No. 6 thanks to Sean Kuraly’s goal with 9:41 left in double overtime, lifting the Black and Gold to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.
The Bruins came into tonight’s game facing elimination and thanks to stellar goaltending and some overtime heroics, they live to fight another day.
For the fifth straight game, the Bruins were unable to score in the first period and quickly fell behind 1-0 after a goal from Mark Stone.
A defensive breakdown by the Bruins early in the second period allowed Ottawa center Jean-Gabriel Pageau to make the deficit 2-0.
The Bruins were able to rally in the second half of the second period. Goals from David Pastrnak and Sean Kuraly tied the game 2-2.
Both teams began to settle in defensively in the third period, resulting in the third overtime of the series.
The first overtime period was wild and both Craig Anderson and Tuukka Rask were forced to make some incredible saves.
Kuraly appeared to win the game for the Bruins in the first overtime, but the play was controversially ruled as goal tender interference.
A second overtime would be required to decide the game.
The Bruins quickly found themselves on the penalty kill to begin the second overtime as Patrice Bergeron was called for interference on Mark Stone.
Kuraly would wind up being the hero for the Bruins after all and recorded the game winning goal just past the halfway point in the period.
The Bruins victory is due in large part to the play of Rask. The Bruins defense, once again, struggled but they were bailed out by their goaltender. Rask wasn’t sharp over the last couple of games and the Bruins desperately needed him to return to form given the struggles and injuries on Boston’s blue line. Needless to say, he delivered, stopping 41 of 43 shots on the night, including some stellar plays in the overtime periods.
Boston once again struggled to stay disciplined, the Bruins committed six penalties on the night. Boston is going to have to play a little bit smarter if they hope to force a game No. 7.
Game No. 6 will be played Sun. at 3 p.m. at the TD Garden.
