Panthers hang with first-place Bruins but fall 2-1 in overtime

SUNRISE, Fla (AP) — Torey Krug scored 4:08 into overtime, Patrice Bergeron also had a goal and the Boston Bruins beat the Florida Panthers 2-1 Thursday night for their fourth straight win.

Moments before he scored, Krug led a 2-on-1 rush with David Pastrnak that was disrupted by MacKenzie Weegar‘s poke check. Pastrnak recovered the puck in the corner and passed to Krug, who wheeled into the high slot and slapped the winner past Chris Driedger.

Jaroslav Halak stopped 32 shots for the NHL-leading Bruins.

Driedger made 25 saves and Weegar scored, but Florida dropped a franchise-worst eighth straight home game and lost its fourth game in a row overall.

This was Driedger’s first start since being recalled from AHL Springfield on Tuesday.

Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo was elbowed in the face by Evgenii Dadonov in the second period. It was initially ruled a major penalty, then reduced to a minor on review. Carlo did not return to the game.

Weegar put the Panthers ahead when his shot from the high slot slipped by a screened Halak 6:55 into the second period.

Bergeron tied it on the power play four minutes later, getting his 30th of the season by redirecting Krug’s shot. Bergeron has scored at least 30 goals in three straight seasons.

NOTES: Panthers G Sergei Bobrovsky missed his second game with a lower-body injury. … C Lucas Wallmark, acquired from Carolina on Feb. 24, recorded his first point with the Panthers with an assist on Weegar’s goal.