Bruins' Brad Marchand Takes on Panthers' Niko Mikkola in Epic Brawl

Early on in the second period, the Panthers were leading the Bruins 2-1. Then, a routine save by Boston goaltender Jeremey Swayman sparked a full-on brawl in the Bruins' defensive zone, featuring heavy hitters like Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. It was reminiscent to last year's playoff series between these two teams, where the Panthers shocked the hockey world by upsetting the Bruins in seven games.

The game stayed heated, with more altercations transpiring. Bruins' captain Brad Marchand squared off against Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. Marchand, 5'9", went toe-to-toe with Mikkola, who's a towering 6'4".

Despite the height difference, Marchand held his own and even came out on top in the scuffle.

Despite the fiery back and forth, the Bruins emerged victorious, staging a late comeback for a 4-3 win, over the Panthers. moving into and snatching the win from under their noses. And get this, Bruins' goalie Jeremey Swayman even picked up his first NHL point with an assist on the game-tying goal late in the third period.

With this win, the Bruins now have a two-point lead over the Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic division with ten games left. Yet the Panthers still have a game in hand, so the race is far from over. It's shaping up to be
an intriguing battle for the top spot.