The Boston Bruins had a rough start to their season as the NHL opened the 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday.
Boston had a chance to get a modicum of revenge against the Florida Panthers: the Stanley Cup champions and the team that eliminated them from the playoffs the season prior.
However, things quickly devolved – which was highlighted when new acquisition Max Jones accidentally slashed a linesman, Devin Berg, in the arm.
Jones was tussling with Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues and did not see Berg skating in to break them up.
The first-year Bruin went to smack Rodrigues’ stick out of his hands – swinging it down on the arm of Berg instead.
Linesman Devin Berg doubles over after being clipped on the arm by Boston’s Max Jones (49)
Jones was given a two-minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions
Jones was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct that the Bruins were able to kill off.
Boston had hoped to get their season off on the right foot by ruining the Panthers’ party – celebrated by raising a banner for their Stanley Cup triumph last season.
Instead, they got completely routed 6-4 by their Atlantic Division rivals – with Florida taking a 4-1 lead in the first period.
A goal from Jonah Gadjovich in the second period and one from Rodrigues in the third made it 6-2 before the Bruins tacked on two goals in garbage time.
Boston will look to rebound on Thursday against hated rivals Montreal.