NHL playoffs: Bruins force Game 6 after double-OT win over Senators

Dave DeLuca

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NHL playoffs: Bruins force Game 6 after double-OT win over Senators image

Ship 'em up to Boston — the Bruins and Senators are headed back to TD Garden.

Sean Kuraly's game-winning backhander in the second overtime clinched a 3-2 Bruins win over the Senators Friday night, cutting Ottawa’s lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.

MORE: NHL playoffs schedule, scores 

A Bruins loss on Friday would have left the team and the city of Boston heartbroken. The Bruins had two golden opportunities to secure the win in the first overtime, but came up empty.

First, Boston's Noel Acciari appeared to score the winner, but the goal was waved off because of goalie interference. The play was reviewed by officials in Toronto and was deemed inconclusive.

Minutes later, Ottawa's Jean-Gabriel Pageau slid across the crease to keep a David Backes shot from crossing the line. It appeared Pageau may have closed his hand on the puck in the crease, which would have led to a penalty shot, but officials decided the video wasn't clear enough.

The Bruins found themselves trailing 2-0 early in the second period, but goals David Pastrnak and Kuraly knotted the game at 2-2. It's the second time this series the Bruins have battled back from two or more goals down. In Game 3, Boston overcame a 3-0 deficit to win.

Despite the win, Boston lost center David Krejci to a lower-body injury when he was checked by Ottawa's Chris Wideman in the first period. It was a knee-to-knee hit that forced Krejci to get helped to the locker room. He did not return.

Dave DeLuca

Dave DeLuca is an intern at Sporting News and a recent graduate of Buffalo State. He's a former intern and digital editor at The Buffalo News and executive editor of The Record, Buffalo State's student-run newspaper.