Bruins Applauded by NHL Fans After Keeping Season Alive with Game 5 Win vs. Panthers

The Boston Bruins are still alive.

Led by goals from Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy—along with 28 saves from goalie Jeremy Swayman—the Bruins staved off elimination and defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, 2-1.

Sam Reinhart scored the lone goal for Florida, while Sergei Bobrovsky was superb in net despite taking the loss:

The Panthers still hold a 3-2 advantage in the series.

But Tuesday night was all about Boston, and NHL fans and pundits alike were impressed by the resolve the team showed to keep its season alive:

We might still be playing hockey if it wasn't for one key moment in the waning seconds, however.

Swayman came up with the play of the game, sliding across his crease to deny Reinhart in the final minute, preserving the win and keeping Boston's season on life support:

Boston has had a fascinating postseason. The Bruins got out to a 3-1 series lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, only to lose the next two games. That set up a pivotal Game 7 at home, and the Bruins survived in overtime, winning 2-1.

Now, it's the Bruins who are attempting to even the series after falling in a 3-1 hole. Normally, a home game would bring a level of confidence in that effort, though the Panthers already won both games at TD Garden this series and Boston is just 2-4 at home in the postseason.

But that's the past. All that matters is that Boston's season is alive for at least one more game, with the series resuming on Friday.