(Getty Images)
FINAL: Panthers 2 at Bruins 3 (OT).- Zacha wins it in OT, Bruins overcome two goal deficit
The Bruins overcame a two goal deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers in overtime 3-2 on Monday night.
Boston had a sloppy first period as they were getting out hustled and had trouble controlling the puck. Florida outshot the Bruins 18-6 in the first period. Aleksander Barkov gave Florida a 1-0 lead 6:13 into the first period. Sam Reinhart added to the score a little bit later to give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage.
Boston had a stronger second period as they took better care of the puck and had more shots on goals and scoring chances. Brad Marchand scored his fifth goal on the season to cut the Florida lead in half 2-1. Boston outshot the Panthers 12-2 in the second period.
Brad gets us on the board. pic.twitter.com/DWK31yqSze
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 31, 2023
The momentum flipped in the third period as Charlie McAvoy scored his second goal on the season to tie the game at two. McAvoy now has six points in five consecutive games. McAvoy was later ejected due to a five-minute major as a result of an illegal check to the head. McAvoy will now be facing a possible suspension by the league.
Pavel Zacha was the hero for Boston tonight as he scored the game winner 3:02 into overtime.
PAVS FOR TWO POINTS. pic.twitter.com/2T2s96492i
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 31, 2023
The Bruins are now 8-0-1 on the season, that is the longest season-opening point streak in team history.
"I'm just happy it went in."
— NESN (@NESN) October 31, 2023
Pavel Zacha on his overtime goal against the Panthers. @AndrewRaycroft | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/GbqgzuPX7Z
Linus Ullmark was outstanding tonight in goal as he finished with 35 saves.
"Just a great effort by the PK, great effort by our four defensemen that were left," Jim Montgomery said after the game.
"Just a great effort by the PK, great effort by our four defensemen that were left."
— NESN (@NESN) October 31, 2023
Jim Montgomery on the Bruins 3-2 OT win over the Panthers. @AndyBrickley | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/9Ov0ZGexjE
Matt Grzelcyk left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
The Bruins will be back in action on Thursday at TD Garden to host the Toronto Maple Leafs with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
___________________
WHO: Panthers (4-3-0) at Bruins (7-0-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
ROSTERS
PREDICTED LINES
BOSTON
Marchand-Zacha-Pastrnak
Van Riemsdyk-Coyle-DeBrusk
Frederic-Poitras-Geekie
Heinen-Beecher-Steen
Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Forbort-Shattenkirk
Ullmark
Swayman
PANTHERS
Last game
Rodrigues - Barkov - Reinhart
Verhaeghe - Luostarinen - Tkachuk
Lomberg - Lundell - Cousins
Lorentz - Stenlund - Lockwood
Forsling - Ekman-Larsson
Mikkola - Kulikov
Mahura - Balinskis
Bobrovsky
Stolarz
PREGAME NOTES
The Bruins continue their four-game home stand tonight versus the Florida Panthers at 7 p.m. It will be the first time Florida returns to Boston since they eliminated the Bruins in game seven of the first round last season.
Boston enters tonight with a 7-0-1 record on the season. “It’s not one of 82…I mean, they ended our season,” Jim Montgomery told reporters this morning. “They went all the way to the Finals. Our summers were miserable until the Finals were over. And that's because they beat us. So, yeah, this means more," Montgomery continued.
“They're playing real good. They're playing similar to how they had success in the second half and in the playoff run [last year],” Jim Montgomery explained. “They're a real hard forechecking team. They're a team that their defensemen are pressing keep pucks alive in the offensive zone really well, which is even better than their forecheck in my estimation,” Montgomery went on.
Danton Heinen was a full participant this morning participating on a line with Johnny Beecher and Oskar Steen despite not officially being cleared for contact.
Montgomery had no update on Heinen's status after morning skate today.
Florida enters tonight with a 4-3-0 record on the season coming off a 3-2 win over Seattle on Saturday night back in Sunrise, Florida, overcoming a two-goal deficit.
Sam Bennet has not played yet this season for the Panthers, but was seen as a "possibility" to suit up tonight according to head coach Paul Maurice. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have also yet to play this season for Florida.
Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with seven goals and nine points through only seven games so far.
Matthew Tkachuk has six assists this season, tied for the team lead with Evan Rodrigues. He also leads the squad with 32 shots on goal.