Bruins, Celtics Can't Shake Bizarre Playoff Trend In Game 5 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics just can't seem to get on the same page.
They've both played five games during their first-round playoff series so far, including four games on the same day. Incredibly, all five games have had opposite outcomes for the two teams.
In their series openers on April 19, the Celtics routed the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 at TD Garden while the Bruins lost 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabres on the road. It was a historic start for the Celtics and a brutal defeat for the Bruins, who blew a 3-0 lead.
Both teams evened their series in Game 2 on April 21. The Celtics suffered a poor shooting night and lost 111-97, while the Bruins bounced back with a 4-2 victory.
Celtics win game 1Bruins lose game 1Celtics lose game 2Bruins win game 2Celtics win game 3Bruins lose game 3Celtics win game 4Bruins lose game 4Celtics lose game 5Bruins win game 5
The Bruins dropped Game 3 at home on April 23, however, falling3-1 after surrendering a pair of unanswered goals in the third period. Fortunately for Boston fans, the Celtics took Game 3 in Philadelphia the following day, prevailing 108-100.
Both teams played Game 4 on April 26. The Celtics won another blowout, beating the Sixers by 32 points on the road in Joel Embiid's surprising return from an emergency appendectomy and setting a franchise playoff record with 24 made 3-pointers. The Bruins got crushed at home, however, yielding four goals in the first period and losing 6-1.
Game 5 featured shocking endings for both teams on April 28. Back at TD Garden, the Celtics blew a double-digit second-half lead at home and lost by 16 after a disastrous fourth quarter. Shortly after, the Bruins beat the Sabres in overtime on David Pastrnak's game-winner to extend the series.
If this bizarre trend holds, the Celtics will win Game 6 on Thursday and the Bruins will lose Game 6 on Friday.
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