Bruins Eliminated From Stanley Cup Playoffs as NHL Fans Hype Panthers vs. Rangers ECF

For the second straight season, the Boston Bruins' season ended with a loss to the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.

Gustav Forsling scored with less than two minutes left in regulation to lead the Panthers to a series-clinching 2-1 victory in Friday night's Game 6.

The Panthers also eliminated the Bruins from the 2023 postseason by winning in Game 7 overtime.

This time Forsling ended the series in six games. He finished the game with five shots, the last of which was enough to eliminate the Bruins.

The Panthers will now advance to face the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final.

The Rangers will have home ice advantage after rallying back from a two-goal third-period deficit Thursday to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.

After making 22 stops against the Bruins in Game 6, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will now face off against Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin in the next round.

Meanwhile Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who was a key reason Boston advanced past the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, finished the loss having turned aside 26 shots.

The Bruins' focus will now turn toward negotiating a new deal with Swayman, who is now a restricted free agent.

The Panthers have the weekend off to celebrate before beginning the battle to return to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final.

Meanwhile the Rangers are seeking their first Final trip since 2014 as they welcome the Panthers to New York for Wednesday's Game 1. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.