Boston Bruins Mark Kastelic drops the gloves against Florida Panthers AJ Greer on opening night

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Tyler Ball
October 8, 2024 (9:53 PM)

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Tonight the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers opening night contest has begun with fireworks after Mark Kastelic and AJ Greer decided to drop the gloves.

The Florida Panthers got their 2024-25 season underway tonight against the Boston Bruins. The Florida Panthers had the opportunity to celebrate their 2024 Stanley Cup Championship tonight raising their banner before the game.

Early into the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins game tempers flared. A hit from Bruins forward Mark Kastelic at center ice didn't sit right with AJ Greer. This led Kastelic and Greer to drop the gloves and trade punches.

The fight would go on to serve as a huge momentum swing in the game to this point. Within minutes after the fight the Florida Panthers took the lead on a goal from Sam Bennett. That was followed up quickly by an Eetu Luostarinen goal.

With the Panthers up 2-0, the Boston Bruins will need to find a way to get momentum back. It will be interesting to see if they opt for another fight to swing the momentum or try another avenue.

Since going up 2-0 the Bruins have turned up the intensity in this game which has led to several scrums and scuffles throughout the game. Bruins forward Trent Frederic challenges Florida Panthers superstar Matthew Tkachuk to a fight but he declined.

Trent Frederic challenges Matthew Tkachuk

The physicality in this game comes after the Panthers and Bruins played in last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. The series got so heated that even Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was calling out Bruins players for their borderline dirty play. This has now led to an insane night one in the NHL. Despite seemingly losing a lot of momentum throughout the game the Bruins remain close as they now trail 2-1.