Bruins, Panthers Fight To Tie

Scott Mellanby, Mark Parrish and Robert Svehla scored third-period goals as the Florida Panthers rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie the Boston Bruins 5-5 on Thursday night.

It was Boston's third overtime game in their last five outings. The Bruins are 0-1-4 in overtime games this season. Florida is 0-0-3 in overtime contests.

Boston goaltender Byron Dafoe turned away 40 shots, including two in overtime. Florida's Sean Burke made 24 saves.

Dmitri Khristich and Anson Carter both scored two goals as the Bruins built a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. Khristich's goals were his eighth and ninth of the season and Carter's his first and second.

Florida's comeback started at 15:57 of the second period on a goal by Oleg Kvasha. Dave Gagner put home a power-play goal with one second left in the second period, his second of the season, to cut Boston's lead to 4-2.

Grant Ledyard scored at 2:23 of the third period as the Bruins regained a three-goal lead.

But Mellanby scored his second goal, on a shot from the left circle that struck Boston's Kyle McLaren's leg and changed direction, at 7:28 of the third period to cut the Bruins' lead to 5-3.

Parrish scored his ninth from in close at 8:25 of the third, cutting the lead to 5-4.

Svelha then tied the game at 9:49 of the third period on a poke shot in front of the net. It was his second goal of the season.

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