BOSTON – David Pastrnak netted a goal and provided an assist on Pavel Zacha’s game-winning goal. The Boston Bruins scored three times in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Four days after Brad Marchand, the captain of the Bruins, was traded to the Panthers, his former team defeated his new team, handing the defending Stanley Cup champions their first loss in seven games. Boston, which had lost eight of nine games leading up to the trade deadline, has since secured consecutive victories against Florida’s likely playoff teams.
Marchand sat out as he recuperates from an undisclosed upper-body injury that caused him to leave the game against Pittsburgh on March 1 in Boston. He participated in a morning skate at the TD Garden and told reporters afterward, “It still felt weird.”
Numerous fans sported jerseys in honor of the ex-captain of the Bruins, including two individuals along the glass by the penalty box who donned fresh No. 63 Panthers sweaters.
Dmitry Kulikov ended a 46-game goal drought with his score, and Mackie Samoskevich increased the lead to 2-0 early in the third period during a five-on-three power play. Florida, which had won 11 of its last 13 games, saw Sergei Bobrovsky stop 21 shots.
Midway through the third period, Boston scored to make it 2-1 when Casey Mittelstadt, one of the team’s acquisitions from the trade deadline, located Pastrnak in front. With 6:09 remaining, Mason Lohrei equalized the score, and Pastrnak assisted Zacha for the winning goal with 3:17 left.
For the Bruins, Jeremy Swayman saved 24 shots.
