Recap: Bruins drop to Panthers, 4-3, in heated match

The Boston Bruins fell to the Florida Panthers, 4-3, on Monday at the TD Garden as a heated contest led to some undisciplined hockey and the B’s second loss to them in a week.

It was another mental and physical contest for the Bruins as the B’s have struggled to figure the Panthers out and have allowed them to get under their skin.

“They’re winning the mental side of the battle on us,” Jim Montgomery said.

“And we can’t lose as many (puck) battles,” he added. “They are the standard in the NHL for winning battles and we’re not up to that level.”

First period:

Mark Kastelic blasted a shot on net which deflected off Johnny Beecher through Sergei Bobrovsky’s five-hole at 4:53 of the first period. 1-0 Bruins.

Anton Lundell stuffed one past Jeremy Swayman’s left skate and the post to get Florida on the board at 6:37 of the first period. 1-1 game.

Things started to get heated after A.J. Greer hit David Pastrnak from behind which caused Pavel Zacha to drop the gloves with him. Shortly after, Charlie McAvoy headed to the box for cross-checking. Five seconds into their power play, Sam Reinhart beat Swayman’s blocker with a wrist shot at 11:51 of the first period. 2-1 Panthers.

Second period:

Brandon Carlo tied the game putting a long wrist shot from the top of the right-wing circle past Bobrovsky at 5:08 of the second period. 2-2 game.

A few minutes later, Pastrnak tried to jab the puck past Bobrovsky on the power play, but came up short. Off the rush, Florida came down the other ice and shorthanded, Reinhart found the loose puck from Jesper Boqvist’s attempt at 9:39 of the second period. 3-2 Panthers.

Lundell then found a hole between Swayman’s pad and blocker after letting go a wrist shot from inside the right-wing circle at 12:59 of the second period. 4-2 Panthers.

The Bruins bounced back when Mason Lohrei walked into the left-wing circle after getting a heads-up pass from Kastelic and sent a wrist shot past Bobrovsky’s stick at 14:07 of the second period. 4-3 game.

Third period:

No goals

Final score: 4-3 Panthers