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The Bruins loved seeing Linus Ullmark try to drop the gloves with Matthew Tkachuk

By Matt Dolloff
Apr 23, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) are separated by the linesmen after a line brawl during the third period of game four in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark had himself quite an eventful afternoon in Florida.

Most importantly, Ullmark stopped 41-of-43 Panthers shots in a convincing 6-2 win that gave the Bruins a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Ullmark’s best save came all the way back in the first period, when he dove to stop a puck with his helmet as Boston was under siege. Brad Marchand would open the scoring minutes later, and the tone was set.

But Ullmark’s most viral highlight from this game might be not a save, but an almost-fight, against Panthers power forward Matthew Tkachuk. Watch the scrum and ensuing antics with Tkachuk and Ullmark below:

  • Ullmark was momentarily assessed a misconduct after the extracurriculars. Officials apparently told Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery that Ullmark could have re-entered the game, but the B’s decided to hold him out in the event of any more shenanigans from the Panthers.

    The goalie’s glove-drop on Tkachuk drew some great reactions from the team.

    “I love it. He’s all in,” said Montgomery.

    “He’s got the size and reach. Maybe one day we’ll get to see,” quipped Marchand.

  • Apr 23, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) punches Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during a line brawl in the third period of game four in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

    Apr 23, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) punches Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during a line brawl in the third period of game four in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

  • Tkachuk scored a nifty between-the-legs goal in Game 4, but he also hurt his team by taking penalties. The Bruins particularly made him pay for cross-checking Garnet Hathaway hard in the midsection, well after time had expired after the first period.

    The cheap shot gave the B’s an immediate power play to start the second. Jake DeBrusk scored on a deflection at the doorstep with just eight seconds left in the man advantage to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead at the time.

  • Tkachuk also took a matching slash penalty with Charlie McAvoy and another 10 for a misconduct after the dust-up with Ullmark. So you can understand why the Bruins netminder was so upset with Tkachuk for coming at him at that point in the game, to the point of wanting to fight.

    Despite his clowning, Tkachuk was the one to get clowned when McAvoy lined him up on the tracks for a big hit:

  • It’s probably for the best that the Bruins’ starting goalie didn’t actually throw (or take) fists. But the team loved to see that kind of energy come out of the typically mild-mannered Ullmark.

    The Bruins reportedly held Ullmark out of postgame media availability to get “treatment.” He was a game-time decision for Game 3, as he works his way through an undisclosed injury, but has yet to miss a game in the series. The injury hasn’t seemed to affect his performance.

  • The Bruins and Panthers will now get two days between games, then do battle in Game 5 on Wednesday night at TD Garden. We’ll keep you posted on Ullmark’s status and others in the Bruins lineup here at 985TheSportsHub.com.

    Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage from 98.5 The Sports Hub.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

NEXT: Bruins Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead In Win Over Panthers

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