Pastrnak and Tkachuk Face Off in Intense Brawl as Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers Elevate Rivalry in Game 2 Showdown

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

In a highly charged Game 2, Boston and Florida went head-to-head, witnessing a standout physical altercation involving Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak.

With a 6-1 deficit nearing the close of the third period, Pastrnak and Tkachuk unexpectedly dropped gloves, igniting a wave of controversy.

Pastrnak expressed his readiness to engage in the altercation, a sentiment that Bruins coach Jim Montgomery seemed to non-verbally endorse.

Although Montgomery didn't outwardly sanction the fight, he lauded Pastrnak's aggressive demeanor while criticizing Tkachuk for purportedly unnecessary hits.

Conversely, Florida's coach, Paul Maurice, found the altercation to be a welcome development, highlighting its intensity.

The scrap led to both participants being penalized and ejected from the game, with Pastrnak later reflecting on the brawl's impact considering the match's scoreline.

The game marked Boston's most decisive playoff defeat as Florida rallied with six straight goals following Charlie Coyle's initial scorer.

Goalie Jeremy Swayman was benched in the third stanza after conceding four goals, with Linus Ullmark stepping in as his replacement.

Coach Montgomery associated the loss more with team exhaustion than Swayman's performance, pointing out the cumulative strain on their main goaltender.

Given Boston's policy of keeping their starting goalie a mystery, the choice of goalkeeper for Game 3 remains uncertain.

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