Elias Lindholm scored the opening goal just 4:50 into the game, carrying the Boston Bruins past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday, boston.com reported.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 40 shots, including 17 in the first period, to help Boston improve to 7-0-0 at home. The win marked their fourth straight victory just a day after placing young star James Hagens on injured reserve.
Mikey Eyssimont and Morgan Geekie also scored in a busy opening period that started out testy. JJ Peterka added a goal for Boston, while David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each contributed two assists, according to boston.com.
Carter Verhaeghe scored a power-play goal for the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots. Florida has now dropped three of their last four games.
Physical play defined the early moments of the matchup. Boston’s 6-foot-7 defenseman Nikita Zadorov dropped the gloves against 6-foot-1 forward Brady Tkachuk at the opening faceoff, setting the stage for 126 total penalty minutes. Just over six minutes later, Florida’s Garnet Hathaway squared off against forward Mark Kastelic.
FINAL: Bruins 4, Panthers 1 Swayman makes 40 saves, Pastrnak adds two assists and Lindholm scores. Next: Canadiens Thu Nov 12.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/idYHaW9oLN
Following a lengthy review, Lindholm was credited with a goal that made it 1-0 after his wrister broke off Markstrom and trickled behind him. Eyssimont then poked a loose puck into the net following a wraparound shot to make it 2-0 less than two minutes later.
Geekie scored for the fourth straight game by one-timing a power-play goal at 15:59 during a two-man advantage. Verhaeghe’s one-timer later cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Panthers swept all three games against Boston last season, winning each contest by a single goal. Florida will close its three-game road trip Tuesday at Columbus.
The Bruins play the second of four straight home games on Thursday, hosting longtime rival Montreal.
FINAL: Bruins 4, Panthers 1 -40 saves for Swayman -Goals from E. Lindholm, Eyssimont, Geekie & Peterka -2 assists apiece for Pastrnak & Zacha -1 ejection apiece for the Tkachuk brothers -126 total penalty minutes The Bruins have won 4 in a row.
🚨🐻 BRUINS 4, PANTHERS 1 — TOTAL CHAOS IN BOSTON! 🥊🔥@nhlbruins made it FOUR straight victories with a 4-1 win over @flapanthers at TD Garden! But this wasn’t exactly your typical Sunday afternoon hockey game. 😂 🥊 Nikita Zadorov and Brady Tkachuk fought TWO SECONDS after… pic.twitter.com/WHCOrdjD00
