The Florida Panthers kicked off their Stanley Cup title defense with a 6-4 victory over the Boston Bruins, showcasing a strong first period where they scored four goals. Sam Bennett led the charge with two goals, while Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues each contributed a goal and an assist. The Panthers, energized by their championship banner ceremony, demonstrated dominance early, capitalizing on defensive lapses from Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who allowed six goals despite making 29 saves. The Bruins, who had won five straight season openers, struggled to maintain momentum and fell behind early, unable to recover despite scoring late in the game. This matchup echoed last year's playoff series, where the Panthers eliminated the Bruins, reinforcing Florida's recent success against Boston. Both teams will meet again in their next matchup on Monday.