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Bruins Suffer Setback In Playoff Race, Fall To Panthers, 1-0
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Scott Clemmensen made 36 saves for his first shutout of the season and Keith Ballard scored the game's only goal, as Florida took a 1-0 win from the Bruins at TD Garden to put a dent into Boston's hopes for a playoff spot.
It was Clemmensen's first whitewash since a 1-0 victory against these same Bruins February 13 of last year while serving as the backup to Martin Brodeur in New Jersey.
The Panthers snapped a four-game skid with the win but a stretch of seven losses in nine games entering Thursday may have ended their chances at playing beyond the regular season.
Atlanta is lurking only two points back in the ninth position but fell to Washington Thursday, 2-1, with only five games remaining in the B’s regular season.
Tuukka Rask came up with 19 saves in the loss for the Bruins, who had been able to help their cause by winning four of their previous six outings.
Courtesy of a Cory Stillman feed from behind the net, Ballard gave the Panthers the lead 7:15 in on a wrister from between the circles that snuck under the right pad of Rask.
Clemmensen was busy over the first 40 minutes with 10 saves in the first period and 17 in the second. He kept on his toes to withstand a late Boston power play with two key saves before it appeared the hosts may have netted an equalizer just outside a minute left in the middle stanza.
The water bottle popped off the top of the net on a Boston shot, but replays showed Clemmensen merely hit the bottle with the butt-end of his stick and Florida retained its slim edge moving to the final period.
Florida's Radek Dvorak was called for a tripping minor with 7:28 to play, but the B's couldn't muster a tying score.
Clemmensen then stopped March Recchi’s bid from in close with the clock rolling toward zeros.
Clemmensen got his fifth career shutout while Ballard picked up his seventh goal on the year...The Bruins fell to 16-17-6 at home this season and have dropped three of their last four games at TD Garden.
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