Bruins 3, Panthers 2: Milan Lucic scored the tiebreaking goal with 69 seconds left in the third period as host Boston rallied for its third consecutive victory.

Rookie David Pastrnak matched Lucic with a goal and an assist while Loui Eriksson also scored as Boston remained three points ahead of Ottawa for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Rookie Ryan Spooner collected a pair of assists and Tuukka Rask turned aside 22 shots to improve to 12-1-1 lifetime against Florida.

Brandon Pirri and former Bruin Brad Boyes netted second-period goals for the Panthers, who squandered a chance to pull within two points of Boston and instead dropped six back with five games remaining. Roberto Luongo made 26 saves as Florida completed a 2-2-1 road trip.

With the teams playing 4-on-4, the Bruins opened the scoring with 3:03 left in the opening period as Carl Soderberg forced a turnover, leaving Eriksson to skate alone in front before patiently waiting and lifting a backhander over a sprawled Luongo. Pirri knotted it on the power play 55 seconds into the middle session with a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle.

Florida forged ahead at the 12 1/2-minute mark following a whiff at the point by Boston defenseman Matt Bartkowski, which allowed Boyes to break in and slide the puck between the pads of Rask. The Bruins drew even midway through the third as Spooner's backhander from the left-wing boards clipped Pastrnak on its way into the net and Lucic settled it with a wrister from the high slot that beat Luongo between the pads.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pirri scored for the 12th time in 16 games to boost his career-best total to 21 goals. ... Eriksson reached 20 goals for the fifth time in his career and first since 2011-12 as a member of the Dallas Stars. ... Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr, who is two points behind Ron Francis (1,798) for fourth place on the all-time list, missed most of the second period with a hand/wrist issue but returned in the third. ... Boston's victory officially eliminated Columbus from postseason contention.