Panthers score 4 points in first open Cup defense with win over Bruins

It was the start of the season for both teams.

Sam Bennett scored two goals, and Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who raised their Stanley Cup championship banner before the game. Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves.

Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. David Pastrnak, Pavel Zacha and Trent Frederic also scored.

Jeremy Swayman didn't play after missing all of training camp before signing an eight-year, $66 million contract on Sunday. Joonas Korpisalo, acquired June 24 in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for goaltender Linus Ullmark, allowed six goals on 35 shots.

Bennett gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 6:27 of the first period, winning a battle with Brandon Carlo at the right post and hammering a rebound into the open net.

Eetu Luostarinen made it 2-0 after 7:31. Korpisalo stopped Reinhart's first attempt, but Luostarinen picked up the rebound in the goal area.

Zacha made it 2-1 with a short-handed goal at 15:33, deflecting a shot from the top of the left circle after a pass from Elias Lindholm.

Reinhart responded with his own shorthanded goal to make it 3-1 at 18:34. He skated down the left wing, moved the puck inside to McAvoy and scored with a shot that bounced off Korpisalo's left shoulder.

Bennett scored his second goal of the half at 19:34 to extend the lead to 4-1.

Jonah Gadjovich made it 5-1 at 9:12 of the second period by parrying a pass from behind from Jesper Boqvist.

McAvoy made it 5-2 at 12:32 and scored five holes after Bobrovsky failed to block John Beecher's first shot.

Rodrigues extended the lead to 6-2 at 6:26 of the third period with a wrist shot from the high slot.

Frederic made it 6-3 at 16:51 with a one-timer off a backhand pass from Justin Brazeau.

Pastrnak brought the Bruins within 6-4 with a power play goal with 1:45 left. His intended pass from the left circle deflected the ball five-hole away from Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.