The Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers entered their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series with history.

But their present story might be even more compelling.

Let's recap:

• The Panthers were routed by the Bruins in Game 1, blew Boston out in Game 2 and then cruised to wins in Games 3 and 4 to put their opponent on the ropes.

• The Bruins responded with a gutsy effort in Game 5 to stay alive. That sent the series back to Boston for Game 6 on Friday.

If that all sounds like déjà vu, well, it's close. Last season, when Boston and Florida met in the first round, it was the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins who jumped to a 3-1 series lead, let it slip away and then lost in overtime in Game 7. Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.

Is Boston about to flip the script on Florida with a comeback of its own? Or, are the Panthers ready to pounce again and send the Bruins packing?

Game 6 could be a series-defining moment. Before it goes down, we look back at storylines Boston and Florida generated after the lopsided showing in Game 1 -- when it was already clear to expect the unexpected from these Atlantic Division foes.

Panthers pepper Swayman

There's no arguing that Jeremy Swayman has been Boston's MVP in the postseason. He bamboozled the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout their first-round series, and Swayman was razor sharp in Boston's dominant Game 1 victory against Florida.

Since then, though, Swayman's been brought slightly back to earth by the Panthers' offensive onslaught. He's 1-3 in Games 2 through 5, with an .896 save percentage and 3.59 goals-against average, a stark contrast to the 5-2 record, .955 SV% and 1.42 GAA Swayman held through the playoffs through Game 1 of this series.

At issue: Swayman has been under siege in the second round. Boston is allowing 34 shots per game and the Bruins forwards are providing little help in the goal support department (averaging 1.75 per game in Games 2 through 5) while averaging just 19.5 shots in that span toward Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Frankly, Swayman's numbers could be worse given what's happening in front of him. And Boston is letting Bobrovsky off easy.

The Panthers netminder is admittedly underworked, but solid when called upon with a 3-1 record, .910 SV% and 1.77 GAA since Game 1.

Instead of Swayman exuding swagger, it's been Bobrovsky looking unbothered. Boston will need to change that in Game 6, where the order of the day should be adapting Florida's strategy of firing pucks at will in an effort to ratchet up the pressure.

The Bruins' struggling special teams

The shoe -- or skate -- is on the other foot now for Boston when it comes to sputtering special teams. The Bruins shut down Toronto's power play in the first round, and it was a decisive factor in their eventual victory.

Well, Boston's power play has been underachieving against Florida. The Bruins are 1-for-14 with the extra man (7.1%), while Florida is 6-for-25 (24.0%) on its power play. Boston's penalty kill has taken an obvious dip (to 76.0%, compared to 95.2% against the Leafs).

However, the silver lining is the Bruins were 4-for-4 on the kill in Game 5 while holding Florida's special teams off the scoresheet for the first time since Game 1. Now, considering Boston won both those games, it's safe to say special teams projects to be a significant element in the Bruins outcome for Game 6.

And consider this: Boston and Florida have scored an equal number of 5-on-5 goals in the series (nine). There's no mistaking what a well-timed power-play marker could do for either side in Friday's contest.