Physicality was aplenty when the Bruins and the Panthers met for a season-opening showdown last Tuesday at Amerant Bank Arena.
There was more of the same Monday afternoon when the Atlantic Division rivals went toe-to-toe at TD Garden.
David Pastrnak was involved in the majority of the extracurriculars in the matinee matchup on Causeway Street. Playing a puck in the corner in the first period, Pastrnak was steamrolled by A.J. Greer while the Boston star had his back turned to his former teammate. Greer’s rough shot, which was not penalized, set the stage for a rare fight from Pavel Zacha.
Shortly thereafter, it was Brad Marchand who came to Pastrnak’s defense when he saw Nate Schmidt approaching the Bruins’ top goal scorer. Boston’s captain was asked about Florida’s targeting of Pastrnak after the Black and Gold suffered a 4-3 loss.
“You usually target the other team’s best players,” Marchand told reporters, per The Athletic. “So every time he has the puck, they’re going to go after him. But I don’t think they were going at him too hard.”
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Marchand didn’t take much issue with referees not penalizing Greer for his arguable cheap shot on Pastrnak. The star left winger did, however, lament the Bruins not being strong enough in certain battles in their second loss of the young season.
The B’s will try to clean things up Wednesday night when they kick off a three-game road trip against the Colorado Avalanche.
Featured image via Winslow Townson/Imagn Images
