Bruins-Panthers recap: B's fall to East rivals 4-3 in physical rematch

The Panthers, despite not having their two-best players in Aleksander Barkov (injury) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness), have beaten the Bruins 4-3 at TD Garden for their second win over Boston this season.

Florida has scored 10 goals (two on the power play) against Boston over two games.

The Bruins put up a good fight Monday afternoon, but they were a little too undisciplined, which played right into the Panthers' hands. Special teams also played a major factor. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart scored a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal. The B's scored on none of their four power-play opportunities. Boston has given up four or more goals in three of its four games.

Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves on 26 shots. Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsly made 25 saves on 28 shots.

Score: 4-3 Panthers, 8:59 left in third period

The Bruins are about to go on their fourth power play of the game. Matthew Poitras drew a tripping penalty in the attacking zone. Boston is 0-for-3 with the man advantage so far.

Score: 4-3 Panthers, 13:34 left in third period

Shots are 4-1 Bruins in the first six minutes of the third period. Pavel Zacha just had a great scoring chance but his shot sailed a few inches wide of the post during a 2-on-1.

Score: 4-3 Panthers

The action has resumed. Can the Bruins mount a comeback?

The Bruins still trail the Panthers by a goal after an eventful second period that saw each team score two goals apiece. Florida outshot Boston 9-5 in the second frame and holds an 18-17 edge in total shots entering what should be an eventful third period at TD Garden.

Score: 4-3 Panthers, 5:38 left in second period

The Panthers opened up a two-goal lead when Anton Lundell beat Jeremy Swayman at 12:59 of the period for his second goal of the game.

Two for Lundy and the kid is locked IN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vBtMuJ9gRU

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) October 14, 2024

The Bruins answered right back, though, with Mason Lohrei scoring his first goal of the season. Boston has two goals from defensemen so far (Lohrei and Brandon Carlo). Mark Kastelic also has assists on all three Boston goals.

Mase on the mark. pic.twitter.com/BJi8c3gE45

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 14, 2024

Score: 3-2 Panthers, 10:21 left in second period

The Panthers are back on top thanks to a Sam Reinhart shorthanded goal -- his second tally of the game. Bruins forward Matthew Poitras lost the puck to Reinhart in the attacking zone and then crashed into Jeremy Swayman at the other end of the ice. Reinhart was there to pick up the pieces.

Reinhart strips it and then scores!#SelkeSZN Reino is here. pic.twitter.com/g0qC5KYhb8

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 14, 2024

Score: 2-2, 14:32 left in second period

The Bruins have evened the score on Brandon Carlo's first goal of the season. It happened as the result of another great shift by the fourth line. Fourth-line center Mark Kastelic now has two assists today.

2️⃣5️⃣ TIES IT UP. pic.twitter.com/TTlUPLYSJS

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 14, 2024

Score: 2-1 Panthers

The action has resumed.

The Panthers lead 2-1 after a very physical first period that saw two fights and a couple bad hits. The Bruins gave the Panthers four power plays in the opening 20 minutes. That's way too much for a team as talented as Florida. Boston has to stay disciplined to beat this team.

Score: 2-1 Panthers, 7:06 left in first period

David Pastrnak was penalized for interference on a late hit against Sam Reinhart. Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt didn't like the hit and went after Pastrnak. B's captain Brad Marchand immediately stepped in and fought Schmidt, much to the delight of the Garden crowd.

This has been the most intense period of the season for the Bruins. There have been two fights and 24 penalty minutes between the teams so far.

Pastrnak is whistled for interference — Schmidt objects, and Brad Marchand jumps into the fray.

Bruins-Panthers going exactly as you'd expect. pic.twitter.com/wsJO7fY8ts

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 14, 2024

Score: 2-1 Panthers, 8:09 left in first period

The Panthers have taken their first lead with a power-play goal by Sam Reinhart. Florida got a power play because Charlie McAvoy took a cross-checking penalty against Carter Verhaeghe shortly after the fight between Pavel Zacha and A.J. Greer.

Reinhart 👍 pic.twitter.com/OOavAwl19R

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 14, 2024

Score: 1-1, 8:37 left in first period

Former Bruins player and current Panthers forward A.J. Greer hit David Pastrnak from behind along the boards and didn't receive a penalty. Pavel Zacha skated over to defend Pastrnak and fought Greer.

Pavel Zacha objects to A.J. Greer's hit on Pastrnak and drops the gloves. pic.twitter.com/5vEN6t9TM1

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 14, 2024

Score: 1-1, 13:23 left in first period

Less than two minutes after the Bruins opened the scoring, the Panthers tied it with a goal by Anton Lundell. Jeremy Swayman wasn't able to seal off the left post and the puck found its away over the goal line. Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm's skate might have actually hit the puck over the line.

Heck of an effort from Lundy! pic.twitter.com/fIGfgkA4Kk

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 14, 2024

Score: 1-0 Bruins, 14:49 left in first period

Boston's fourth line has been red-hot to start the season, and this group just scored the first goal of the game. It came at the end of a strong shift during which the Bruins were all over the Panthers in the attacking zone. Mark Kastelic's shot trickled past Sergei Bobrovsky and into the net. It is Kastelic's third goal of the season.

Kasty stays hot. pic.twitter.com/DsyjdHqRmB

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 14, 2024

The puck has been dropped and the game has started.

Here are the projected lines and pairings for the Bruins based on pregame warmups:

Pavel Zacha--Elias Lindholm--David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand--Charlie Coyle--Morgan Geekie
Trent Frederic--Matthew Poitras--Justin Brazeau
John Beecher--Mark Kastelic--Cole Koepke

Nikita Zadorov--Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm--Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei--Andrew Peeke

Jeremy Swayman

Here are the projected lines and pairings for the Panthers:

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters Monday morning that star forward Matthew Tkachuk won't play against the Bruins due to illness. He's expected to miss about a week.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters before the game that there will be no lineup changes from Saturday's win over the Kings. B's goalie Jeremy Swayman will make his third straight start. Swayman is 2-0-0 with a .914 save percentage in two starts this season.

Pregame updates per Coach Montgomery:

▪️No lineup changes expected
▪️Jeremy Swayman starts in goal#NHLBruins | @NewEnglandHonda pic.twitter.com/FD0IkPjZm6

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 14, 2024

The Panthers will be without No. 1 center and captain Aleksander Barkov, who suffered a lower body injury after sliding into the boards in a loss to the Senators last Thursday. The team announced Barkov is expected to be out two to three weeks, which means he'll be unavailable Monday vs. the Bruins. Barkov is one of the league's top centers and won the Selke Trophy last season, so his loss is a huge setback for Florida.