Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers reacts with Matthew Tkachuk #19 after scoring a goal during the first period against the Boston Bruins. at Amerant Bank Arena on October 08, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Oftentimes, the fun of a night that begins with the raising of a Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters ends right then and there. But if Tuesday night was supposed to come with a post-ceremony letdown for the fans at Amerant Bank Arena, the Panthers did not get that memo.

Instead, the Panthers picked up right where they left off a year ago, as they outworked the Bruins early and often, blitzed them with their signature snarl, and made a 6-4 victory look downright easy.

Florida’s attack was as fast and furious as ever, too, with four goals dropped on the Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo in the opening 20 minutes of action, and with a 12 of the game’s first 13 shots credited to the relentless Panther attack.

And by the night’s end, the Panthers had six goals on the board, with five different players credited with a goal, and 11 of their 18 skaters credited with at least one point in the victory.

  • For the Bruins, meanwhile, the beatdown represented their first Opening Night loss since a 2018 bludgeoning at the hands of the Capitals, which also came on what was a banner-raising night for Washington.

    Here are the 98.5 The Sports Hub (dot com) 3 Stars from a season-opening loss…

  • Third Star: Pavel Zacha

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins center Pavel Zacha (18) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

    In a night short on positives for the Bruins, the good news is that Pavel Zacha didn’t waste any time getting himself on the board with his first goal of the new campaign.

    Moving back to left wing after spending almost all of last year at center, it was Zacha who scored the first goal of the B’s 2024-25 season, and on a shorthanded blast through Sergei Bobrovsky.

    After last year came with career-highs for the Czech-born forward, the Bruins are going to rely on Zacha to utilize his shot even more than he did a year ago, and there should be ample opportunity to do exactly that if he’s riding as the left-side option with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak.

  • Second Star: Sam Reinhart

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) looks on against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) looks on against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

    Nobody was happier to see Steven Stamkos leave the Atlantic Division than the Bruins. And on a similar note, watching Sam Reinhart stay in the Atlantic Division was probably enough to make the B’s punch drywall.

    Emerging as one of the new ‘Bruins Killers’, Reinhart added to that resume Tuesday night, with a goal and an assist, including an absolute backbreaking shorthanded strike in the first period of this contest.

    With the two-point night, Reinhart is now up to 14 goals and 31 points in 40 career regular-season games against the Bruins. His 14 goals since 2014-15 are tied for the fourth-most among the Bruins over that span, while his 31 points also rank fourth, trailing only Nicklas Backstrom (32), Mitch Marner (34), and Sidney Crosby (38).

    The Panthers also dominated the puck with Reinhart on the ice, with the Panthers outshooting the Bruins by a ridiculous 11-2 mark during Reinhart’s 7:57 of time on ice at five-on-five play.

  • First Star: Sam Bennett

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

    Oct 8, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

    Another Bruins Killer, Sam Bennett remained an infuriating presence for the Bruins in more ways than one, with two goals and countless post-whistle skirmishes with the Black and Gold.

    Gino Hard on X (formerly Twitter): "Sam Bennett scores ANOTHER for the Panthers for their 4th goal of the opening frame 🚨 pic.twitter.com/byQYlEVyXg / X"

    Sam Bennett scores ANOTHER for the Panthers for their 4th goal of the opening frame 🚨 pic.twitter.com/byQYlEVyXg

    And as is tradition, Bennett put his imprint on this game beyond the scoreboard.

    In the second period, Morgan Geekie found himself alone in front of the Florida for a glorious scoring chance, but Bennett came in and crosschecked him to hell without a penalty call made. And then in the third, and on what was Florida’s sixth and final goal of the evening, Bennett absolutely decked Korpisalo with a full-on collision that ultimately required B’s trainers coming out to take an extra look at the 30-year-old goalie.

    Bear With Me on X (formerly Twitter): "Sam Bennett crosschecks Morgan Geekie. No call, obviously. https://t.co/p0KAbpdZ7v pic.twitter.com/p4aZx9V53F / X"

    Sam Bennett crosschecks Morgan Geekie. No call, obviously. https://t.co/p0KAbpdZ7v pic.twitter.com/p4aZx9V53F

    The Bruins are downright sick of this guy, no doubt about it.

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