On Columbus Day, the Florida Panthers faced off against the Boston Bruins in a highly competitive matchup, emerging victorious with a 4-3 win. Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell each scored twice, leading the Panthers to their fourth consecutive victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Reinhart opened the scoring early with a power-play goal, capitalizing on a cross-checking penalty assessed to Charlie McAvoy. Remarkably, Reinhart found the back of the net just six seconds into the man advantage, setting a brisk pace for the game. The Bruins responded with a goal from Mason Lohrei, but Reinhart soon struck again, this time short-handed, giving Florida a 3-2 lead early in the second period. Reinhart’s steal at the Boston blue line ignited a two-on-one opportunity, showcasing his skill and determination.
Lundell was equally impressive, netting two goals to solidify the Panthers‘ offensive dominance. His second goal was a critical moment in the game, occurring about three minutes after Reinhart’s short-handed tally. Lundell took advantage of another Bruins turnover, receiving a precise pass from Gustav Forsling after Forsling stripped the puck from Boston’s Morgan Geekie. Lundell then skated in and beat Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman on the stick side, pushing Florida’s lead to 4-2.
The Bruins, however, weren’t ready to give up. Lohrei added his second goal of the night just a minute after Lundell’s strike, narrowing the Panthers’ lead to 4-3 with five minutes remaining in the game. Johnny Beecher also contributed to Boston’s efforts, scoring a goal and adding an assist, while Mark Kastelic registered three assists. Despite the late push, the Bruins fell short, unable to equalize before the final buzzer.
Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was a key figure in Florida’s victory, stopping 25 shots to maintain the lead. His solid performance was particularly vital as the Panthers were missing captain Aleksandr Barkov, who is week-to-week with an unspecified injury, and forward Matthew Tkachuk, sidelined for the second consecutive game due to illness.
Jeremy Swayman, making his third straight start after a contract holdout, recorded 22 saves in what marked his first loss of the season. The Bruins’ struggles with giveaways proved costly, leading to key scoring opportunities for the Panthers.
The Panthers looked strong and cohesive, even in the absence of key players. Reinhart’s first-period power play goal set a commanding tone for Florida. Both teams exhibited flashes of brilliance, but the Bruins’ turnovers ultimately hindered their chances.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will visit Columbus on Tuesday night, aiming to build on this momentum as they navigate the early part of the season. With performances like those of Reinhart and Lundell, Florida is poised for another exciting campaign.
