Abrupt ending for B's

Falling behind after four games, the Bruins essentially played the final 138-plus minutes of their Eastern Conference semifinal series -- and ultimately the 2008-09 season -- with their backs up against the wall.

Even still, the ending seemed far too abrupt when Scott Walker's overtime winner with 1:24 remaining in the extra session of Game 7 ended Boston's ultra-successful campaign.

"You go down, 3-1, and battle back like this," said top-line center Marc Savard. "To end like that, it's shocking.

"At the end of the day, we had a chance to win, and we didn't get it done... It's tough. There's a lot of great hockey players, great people, and I feel bad for everybody."

Savard's sentiments were echoed throughout the Bruins' locker room, from veterans to newcomers.

"It's pretty tough," said rookie Byron Bitz, who scored his first playoff goal in the first period to give the Bruins their only lead of the evening. "You battle like hell like that, and it comes down to one goal, one shot. It's like a knife to the heart."

What's more, the Bruins seemingly had all the momentum after Milan Lucic's third-period goal evened the game and forced the extra session. But Boston couldn't find the score to prolong its season.

"I thought even in OT, we had great shifts, working down low," said Bitz. "I thought it would be one of those goals -- a shot from the point and a rebound. I thought we had it, but it comes down one shot."