Panthers score 4 in 1st, open Cup defense with win against Bruins

Bennett scored his second of the period at 19:34 to push the lead to 4-1.

Jonah Gadjovich made it 5-1 at 9:12 of the second period, jamming in a backdoor pass from Jesper Boqvist.

“You have to play all 60 minutes, and they are a good team who plays hard,” Gadjovich said. “But if we focus on our game, worry about ourselves, we’re going to walk away with a few wins.”

McAvoy made it 5-2 at 12:32 of the second, scoring five-hole after Bobrovsky couldn’t glove down John Beecher‘s initial shot.

Rodrigues extended the lead to 6-2 at 6:26 of the third period with a wrist shot from the high slot.

Frederic made it 6-3 at 16:51 with a one-timer off a backhand pass from Justin Brazeau.

Pastrnak got the Bruins to within 6-4 with a power-play goal with 1:45 remaining. His intended pass from the left circle redirected five-hole off the skate of Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.

“The game was 4-1 after the first, so I am not too happy with that,” Korpisalo said. “There were a couple of weird bounces, but it was pretty hard to come back there. I just have to be better. It was 6-4. I’m not happy.”

NOTES: The Panthers announced after the game that they had signed forward Carter Verhaeghe to an eight-year contract. “Growing up, you’re just trying to make the NHL and try to find a place,” Verhaeghe said. “And I think to be a Florida Panther for this long already is a huge honor for me. To even extend it longer, I mean … I’m so proud to be a Panther for life.” … Panthers defenseman Adam Boqvist left the game at 15:24 of the first period after he appeared to take a puck off the jaw on a clearing attempt.