Bruins take series opener over Panthers in 5-1 rout

It is the second consecutive season the teams have met in the playoffs. A year ago the Panthers rallied back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round to eliminate the Bruins, who had set league records for wins and points during the 2022-23 regular season.

Jeremy Swayman made 38 saves and five different players scored for Boston on Monday.

Matthew Tkachuk gave Florida a 1-0 lead with 8:15 left in the second period. He beat Swayman from the inside top of the right circle.

But Morgan Geekie tied it 1-1 for the Bruins just 1:07 later when he put in a loose puck.

Defenseman Mason Lohrei put the Bruins ahead 2-1 with 3:43 remaining in the middle period on a shot from the bottom of the left circle. It was his first career playoff goal.

It was the Bruins' first lead during play since Game 4 of Boston's first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins won Game 7 in overtime after tying the score in the third period.

Defenseman Brando Carlo, whose wife gave birth to to their second child early Monday morning, made it 3-1 with 21 seconds left in the second with a shot from the top of the right circle.

Justin Brazeau scored 7:43 into the third period and Jake DeBrusk added an empty-net goal.