Brad Marchand, Bruins: No Grudge Held over Last Season's Playoff Exit

The Boston Bruins erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers in an overtime victory. The win was described as a "character win" by the Bruins.

The atmosphere was tense at TD Garden on Monday night as Bruins fans anxiously watched the Florida Panthers take an early 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. Memories of past playoff defeats haunted their minds. But the Bruins had no intention of succumbing to the ghosts of the past.

With determination and resilience, the Bruins fought back, erasing the two-goal deficit and scoring three unanswered goals. The game-winner came in overtime from Pavel Zacha, marking the team's first "character win" of the season.

Reflecting on the victory, Bruins captain Brad Marchand dismissed the notion that it held any special significance due to the Panthers eliminating Boston from the playoffs the previous year. With a chuckle, Marchand explained, "Not because I don't hold grudges. Just didn't change anything. It's always nice to win a game, but it's two points. It's not going to change last year's outcome. At the end of the day, Florida ended up in the exact same spot as us, just a month later."

Marchand emphasized the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup, stating, "Only one team wins, it doesn't matter if you win. If you lose in the fourth round or the first round unless you win the cup. You don't achieve your goal, and this season has no bearing on that. Tonight is definitely a big win for us... If we beat them in the playoffs, that would mean more, but this is just a regular season game. It's another two points."

In net, Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark continued his impressive performance, improving his record to 4-0-1 for the season. Ullmark made 35 saves in the overtime victory. Like Marchand, he shared a similar outlook on the Panthers' previous playoff success against the Bruins.

"I don't carry grudges," Ullmark asserted. "What happened last year is in the past. There's no reason to dwell on it for me. It doesn't matter now. The only thing that matters to me is the next puck. And if I start thinking about what happened last year, it's not going to help me now."

The Bruins' triumph over the Panthers showcased their resilience and determination to overcome adversity. It was a testament to their unwavering focus on the present moment and their commitment to achieving their ultimate goal. With each game, the Bruins continue to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in the NHL.