Simply put, the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers don’t like one another.
A mere 12 months removed from a bitter first-round series, the teams engaged in four taxing tilts during the regular season, including twice in the last 10 days.
Both teams had some stakes up for grabs, with the Panthers entering Saturday’s matinee four points behind the Bruins for the top spot in the Atlantic. But more important than improving their potential placement in the final 82-game standings, the divisional rivals wanted nothing more than to make a statement and prove that they’re ready for the postseason grind.