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Out on Pastrnak fighting

There weren’t many positives from the Bruins 6-1 Game two loss in Florida. The Bruins were unable to get shots on net, they had plenty of turnovers in the defensive…

May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) shoots the puck against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

May 6, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) shoots the puck against Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the first period in game one of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

There weren't many positives from the Bruins 6-1 Game two loss in Florida. The Bruins were unable to get shots on net, they had plenty of turnovers in the defensive end. They also have a playoff high five too many men on the ice penalties for the playoffs. The Bruins went up 1-0 on Charlie Coyle's first goal of the playoffs. The Panthers came back to even the score and then the game got away from the Bruins late in the second period. The Panthers scored three times including a dagger with with seconds remaining in the period. Jeremy Swayman was pulled for Linus Ullmark to give him work in the series.

The third period was a disaster. Not only did the Bruins give up three more goals with Ullmark in net, a total of twelve players were ejected for fighting. Montour got in the face of Brad Marchand and and the gloves were off. Patrick Maroon, Trent Frederick, Justin Brazeau, Charlie McAvoy and Marchand were all off the ice. Matthew Tkachuk went at the star player David Pastrnak instigating a fight with him. Of course the enforcers of the Bruins are all out of the game and Pastrnak had enough. He asked coach Jim Montgomery if he could fight. Mongomery asked "Are you sure" and then gave the blessing. That was my biggest problem with the teams best player getting into a fight in a meaningless outcome of a game.

I'm not being critical of the sentiment from Pastrnak, it's the coach letting him even be in that situation. What went on to happen was not in the best interest of the player and the team. Tkachuk went out to throw in a few more late punches after surrendering. That's the kind of things that happen in those situations. We also learned that Pastrnak shouldn't fight at all anymore.
The series is tied at 1 heading to Boston, i'm not sure what impact fighting a villian who get into the heads of the team a year ago will do going into game three. I prefer Pastrnak taking more shots on net than taking shots in a fight.
Joe Murray has worked behind the scenes and on-air in New England since 2007. Murray was born and raised in Boston (Hyde Park) and is now living on the North Shore in Peabody. A graduate of CSB School of Broadcasting, Joe was hired at 98.5 The Sports Hub in 2011 and is the host of Patriots Postgame and the Over/Under Podcast with Dan Lifshatz. Joe was hired as the full-time night show host in 2023, and a featured guest for “The Weekly Spread” on NBC Sports Boston during football season. Joe writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.