David Pastrnak-Matthew Tkachuk fight: Why Bruins, Panthers stars threw punches at the end of Game 2

The Bruins didn't show too much fight in their 6-1 loss in Game 2 against the Panthers, but David Pastrnak tried to change that late in the third period.

With just under eight minutes left in Florida's series-evening victory, Pastrnak squared up with Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk in a fight. The duo went after each other hard, and some heavy punches were laid by each player.

Tkachuk ended up winning the fight. He threw Pastrnak to the ice and got a couple of massive shots on Boston's top scorer.

Nonetheless, Pastrnak won the respect of coach Jim Montgomery, who appreciated his star's efforts to spark the otherwise listless Bruins.

"I'm really proud of Pasta," Montgomery told reporters after the game. "There's so many guys out there pushing after the whistle and the linesmen are there. Pasta and Tkachuk just went out there and fought. That's what you like. You like your hockey players to be competitors."

Here's what to know about the Pastrnak vs. Tkachuk fight and the unique way it unfolded.

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Why David Pastrnak, Matthew Tkachuk fought in Game 2 of Bruins-Panthers series

Pastrnak and Tkachuk's fight didn't appear to be about any one issue. They simply squared off because the Bruins needed a spark after growing frustrated with their efforts in a 6-1 defeat.

Tkachuk was a thorn in Boston's side all evening, logging four hits and playing his usual brand of physical hockey. He jawed with Pastrnak, and others, at times throughout the contest, so that made him a logical target of the Bruins star when he decided to drop the gloves.

Unsurprisingly, Tkachuk was ready and willing to brawl with Pastrnak after the two got into a shouting match near the center dot. Boston's top scorer was as well, but he waited until he got Montgomery's permission to engage in a scrap.

Montgomery evidently gave him the go-ahead — the 54-year-old denied that he did after the game, but that may have been just a procedural declaration — and the fisticuffs occurred shortly thereafter.

Montgomery expressed pride in Pastrnak's decision to fight while also calling Tkachuk out for getting in what he thought were some extra shots on his top winger after he fell to the ice.

"That's not part of the game to me," Montgomery said.

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Pastrnak didn't seem to mind too much. He lost the fight and received a game misconduct for his actions, but he showed no fear in taking on the bigger, stronger Tkachuck, who is 6-2, 210 pounds compared to Pastrnak's 6-0, 196-pound frame.

"I'm not afraid of him, to be honest," Pastrnak said of Tkachuk . "I can take a punch and I'd do anything for these guys here."

Pastrnak's teammates will be happy with his efforts as a fighter, but all parties involved with the Bruins will hope he can have more of an impact on scoring as the series returns to Boston. He has scored three times during the 2024 NHL playoffs but has just one goal — the Game 7, game-winner vs. Toronto — over his last five games.

Will David Pastrnak or Matthew Tkachuk be suspended?

No, neither will be suspended because of their fight. Each was sent off for the end of Game 2, but they won't face any extra discipline from the NHL.

Pastrnak and Tkachuk were just two of 12 players sent off in the third period because of misconduct calls. It was a chippy playoff game and the officials were simply trying to keep players in check late in the Panthers' blowout win.

Both star players served their sentences to end Game 2. Now, each will focus on powering his team to a series win in Game 3 as the series heads to Boston.