The score got out of hand and then the players went wild too.
A huge brawl and a subsequent fight between Bruins superstar David Pastrnak and Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk overshadowed Florida’s 6-1 win over Boston to even the second-round NHL playoff series at 1-all.
The third period included 17 penalties for 136 penalty minutes and the teams combined for 158 total penalty minutes (87 Boston, 71 Florida), marking the first time since 2015 both teams topped 70 penalty minutes in the same contest, according to ESPN.
Boston’s 87 penalty minutes were its most since 1988, per ESPN.
“You’re in the game, it’s a lot of emotions, I’m not afraid of him, to be honest,” Pastrnak said. “I can take a punch, and I’d do everything for these guys here.”
The Bruins stole Game 1 in this series and trailed 3-1 entering the third period before things started to unravel for lower-seeded Boston, as Florida scored three goals in 12 minutes to ice the game.
The first brawl happened right after Florida grabbed a 6-1 lead, as nine players from the two teams started tussling near the Bruins goal.
Two players fell to the ground, while another pair got quite chippy near the boards. Pastrnak and Sam Reinhart also had two referees separating them against the boards.
But the heavyweight showdown came less than a minute later when Tkachuk challenged Pastrnak to throw down as they retreated to their benches.
It appears Pastrnak told head coach Jim Montgomery of his plans before the two came off their benches, threw off their gloves and started tossing haymakers.
“Definitely for the team, and he was asking me, so I felt like I also had to step up and the game was over, was 6-1, so leave it to go,” Pastrnak said. “The game is over, give it a go. He got what he wanted.”
Both coaches praised their players how they handled things.
“I’m really proud of Pasta,” Montgomery said, per ESPN. “He just went out there and fought. You like your hockey players to be competitors.”
Added Panthers coach Paul Maurice: “I thought it was awesome.”
Montgomery did not approve, however, of what he perceived to be cheap shots.
The two fell to the ice during their brawl, and Tkachuk landed two blows to the back of Pastrnak’s exposed head while he fell on top of him.
Tkachuk eventually fell to the ice while Pastrnak landed in striking position on top, but the referees got in the way to prevent any crushing blow.
“That’s not part of the game to me,” Montgomery said of Tkachuk’s blows to the head, according to ESPN.
The series now shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Friday night, where Pastrnak is sure to receive a hero’s welcome as the Panthers are booed out of the building.
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