Bruins Burn Panthers

     The Boston Bruins remained unbeaten in regulation as they edged the Florida Panthers 3-2 Iin overtime at TD Garden on Monday night. The Cats, who played in their first overtime game this season, started a three-game road trip. 

     The B's got revenge after being knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round by the Panthers last season in seven games. The Bruins set an NHL record in 2022-23 with the most wins and points in a regular season. 

     Florida(4-3-1) pulled out to a 1-0 lead at the 6:13 mark of the first period. Aleksander Barkov was able to get a snap shot from the inner left circle by Linus Ullmark for his second goal of the year. Sam Reinhart and Niko Mikkola were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Panthers expanded it to 2-0 with 4:52 remaining in the first. Barkov backhanded a pass from behind the Bruins cage and Reinhart collected his eighth goal of the season on a wrist shot from the slot area. 

     Boston(8-0-1) closed it to 2-1 at 3:38 of the second period. Their new team captain Brad Marchand picked up his fifth goal of the campaign on a tip-in shot from the crease area past Sergei Bobrovsky. 

     In the third period, the Bruins tied it up 2-2 at the 7:20 mark. Charlie McAvoy snapped a shot from the top of the crease for his second tally in 2023-24. 

     The Bruins won the contest at 3:36 in overtime. Pavel Zacha was able to get an unassisted goal when he skated through the neutral zone and snapped a shot from the right circle for his third goal this season.