On the opening night of the NHL season, the Florida Panthers began their defense of the Stanley Cup with a 6-4 victory over their rival Boston Bruins. The matchup featured intense moments on the ice, and a celebration of Florida’s 2023 championship, highlighted by the raising of their first Stanley Cup banner at the Amerant Bank Arena.
Florida’s win was powered by a balanced offensive effort. Sam Bennett led the charge with two goals, while Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues each contributed a goal and an assist. Eetu Luostarinen and Jonah Gadjovich also found the back of the net for Florida, helping the Panthers build an early lead that proved too much for Boston to overcome.
The Panthers jumped out to a fast start in the first period, with Bennett and Luostarinen scoring just 64 seconds apart for a 2-0 advantage. Boston’s Pavel Zacha quickly responded, but Florida answered with another quick burst. Reinhart and Bennett struck exactly 60 seconds apart, extending the Panthers’ lead to 4-1 and electrifying the home crowd.
Sergei Bobrovsky, who backstopped Florida to their Stanley Cup title, was solid in goal with 24 saves, especially in the game’s final stretch as the Bruins pressed for a comeback.
The Bruins, who had won five consecutive season openers before this game, fell short despite goals from Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic, and David Pastrnak. Joonas Korpisalo got the start in net for Boston, a decision that raised eyebrows since the Bruins had just signed Jeremy Swayman to a new eight-year, $66 million deal. Korpisalo made 29 saves, but faced consistent pressure from the Panthers’ offensive depth.
The game reached a fever pitch when Florida led 5-1 midway through the second period. Panthers fans, recalling their recent postseason triumphs over Boston, chanted “We want Swayman” in a playful jab at the Bruins’ goaltending decision.
As expected in a game between these two teams, there was no shortage of physical play. The rivalry between Florida and Boston has heated up over the past two seasons, with the Panthers eliminating the Bruins in back-to-back playoffs. Much of the Bruins’ physicality was directed at Matthew Tkachuk, a central figure in those playoff battles.
In one notable incident, Boston’s Max Jones attempted to slash Rodrigues, but inadvertently struck linesman Devin Berg, earning a 2-minute unsportsmanlike penalty. Despite the chippiness, Florida capitalized on their opportunities, netting two quick goals on two separate occasions in the opening period to establish control of the game.
With this victory, Florida improved to 4-1 in their last five season openers. The defending champions showed that they still have the depth and scoring power that fueled their run to the Stanley Cup. While the game revealed areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining defensive structure, the Panthers’ potent offense and ability to strike quickly highlighted why they remain a threat in the new season.
For Boston, the game provided an early reminder of the challenges ahead as they adjust to roster changes and aim to return to the form that made them one of the league’s top teams last season. The decision to start Korpisalo over Swayman will certainly be a topic of discussion as the Bruins regroup for their next matchup.
As the NHL season gets underway, this opening night contest set the tone for what promises to be another thrilling year. The Panthers sent a clear message with their win over the Bruins: the road to the Stanley Cup still runs through Florida.
