Panthers have become the Bruins' most hated team

Brady Tkachuk and the Panthers left Boston with a 4-1 loss Sunday, and now Bruins media are calling Florida their most hated team.

That's a lot of heat for a rivalry that used to be about playoff series. Bruins fans and podcasters have spent the morning arguing that the Panthers have passed the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, and one Locked On Bruins episode asks whether Florida is now Boston's most heated rival.

It's easy to see why. The game turned ugly right away, with Brady Tkachuk dropping the gloves with Nikita Zadorov off the opening draw, a fight we reported as it broke.

It never settled down. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk each picked up a 10-minute misconduct, three minutes apart, and Anton Lundell sucker-punched Charlie McAvoy. The teams combined for 126 penalty minutes and 29 penalties.

Gino Hard noted that it was the most penalty minutes in any game this season.

Locked On Bruins didn't hedge. With all due respect to Montreal and Toronto, he wrote, Florida is his most hated hockey team these days.

The Bruins' own players aren't treating it as a surprise. McAvoy said the Panthers have "a championship pedigree over there, and that's their style," and he pointed to the two playoff series Boston has played against them during their runs.

McAvoy was also on the other end of Anton Lundell's scrum with Charlie McAvoy on Sunday night.

Zadorov, who traded punches with Tkachuk to start the night, said the Bruins learned from earlier games against Florida. He said "our own mistakes were hurting us before against a team like that because they're really experienced. They can pull you into the fight." This time, he said, "we had each other's backs today."

Is the Panthers' edge starting to cost them?

Yes, and the penalty box is where it shows. Boston got nine power plays, the most against Florida since Oct. 14, 2021, according to Jameson Olive.

Morgan Geekie scored one of them. Brady Tkachuk finished with 13:12 of ice time and Matthew Tkachuk with 17:39, hardly what Paul Maurice wants from two of his best forwards against the team leading the Atlantic.

The standings give the nastiness a price tag. Florida is 9-7-2, has lost two straight and sits four points behind third place in the Atlantic.

Playing with an edge is part of the Panthers' identity, and nobody expects them to back down from a team that wants the fight. But feeding Boston nine power plays is a bad habit for a team that needs points, not a reputation. Florida plays at Columbus on Tuesday, while Boston hosts Montreal on Thursday.

Quick hits

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETSAdam Fantilli is back on the ice at Blue Jackets practice, according to Mark Scheig, and the scare from a hard collision looks avoided. Good news for Columbus, and something for Florida to keep in mind Tuesday.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSElliotte Friedman said this morning the Blackhawks are trying to do something, and offensive help is the target. Draft picks are reportedly on the table.

MINNESOTA WILDJoe Smith reports Quinn Hughes will play in Montreal after missing practice for Keith Tkachuk's Hall of Fame induction. That answers the big question in the Wild camp.

EDMONTON OILERSDevon Levi is getting the start tonight against the Rangers, RotoWire reports. The Binnington buzz has cooled for now.

OTTAWA SENATORSRidly Greig is back on the ice and skating with the main group at Monday's practice, according to Andrew Wilimek. The Senators host Winnipeg next.