Panthers open their title defense by getting past Bruins 6-4

Sam Bennett scored twice, Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues every had a purpose and an help, and the Florida Panthers opened protection of their Stanley Cup championship by topping the Boston Bruins 6-4 on Tuesday within the opener for each groups.

Euto Luostarinen and Jonah Gadjovich additionally scored for Florida, whereas Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 pictures. Florida raised its championship banner earlier than the sport.

Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic and David Pastrnak scored for Boston, which had gained 5 consecutive openers. Florida is 4-1 in its final 5 openers.

Bruins: Boston went with Joonas Korpisalo in internet as an alternative of newly re-signed Jeremy Swayman, who obtained his eight-year, $66 million deal accomplished Sunday. Korpisalo made 29 saves. When it was 5-1 halfway via the second, Panthers followers serenaded the Bruins with chants of “We wish Swayman.”

Panthers: Florida handled some chippiness in opposition to Boston, which was ousted by the Panthers the final two postseasons. A lot was directed at Matthew Tkachuk – he and the Bruins have loads of historical past – however even officers weren’t protected. Boston’s Max Jones tried to slash Rodrigues, however hit linesman Devin Berg as an alternative to earn a 2-minute unsportsmanlike penalty.

There have been two, with the Panthers scoring two fast targets on two events within the opening interval. Bennett and Luostarinen scored 64 seconds aside for a 2-0 lead. After Boston scored, Reinhart and Bennett scored precisely 60 seconds aside to make it 4-1.

Together with playoffs, this was the twenty second assembly between the Panthers and Bruins for the reason that begin of the 2022-23 season. No two groups have confronted one another extra in that span. The wins in these 22 video games: Panthers 11, Bruins 11. The purpose whole: Panthers 74, Bruins 74.

Boston begins a three-game homestand Thursday in opposition to Montreal. Florida goes to Ottawa to start out a four-game, six-day highway journey Thursday.