Brad Marchand recorded two assists in his first game back at TD Garden since being traded to the Florida Panthers, helping his new team secure a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins. Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal with 26 seconds left to end Florida's four-game losing streak. The Bruins, who received a standing ovation for their former captain, dropped their fifth straight game.
The matchup on October 21, 2025, at TD Garden marked an emotional return for Brad Marchand, who spent 16 seasons with the Bruins, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 before being traded to Florida on March 7. Marchand, now 37, assisted on two goals and received a standing ovation during a first-period video tribute. "I’m so grateful for the moment and very appreciative for what the Bruins did, and the love and support the fans have shown me," Marchand said.
Florida struck first on the power play at 1:01 of the opening period when Mackie Samoskevich scored, assisted by Marchand after drawing a tripping penalty on Boston's Tanner Jeannot at 0:33. A.J. Greer extended the lead to 2-0 at 2:01 of the second period with a wrister past Jeremy Swayman.
The Bruins mounted comebacks in the third. Pavel Zacha cut the deficit to 2-1 at 2:46, tapping in a backdoor feed for his second goal of the season. Elias Lindholm tied it at 2-2 on the power play at 4:46, redirecting David Pastrnak's shot. Eetu Luostarinen regained the lead for Florida at 9:58, breaking in alone on a backhand pass from Marchand for his first goal of the year.
With Swayman pulled, Morgan Geekie tied it 3-3 at 18:29 on a rebound setup by Casey Mittelstadt and Pastrnak. But Verhaeghe won it at 19:34, his shot deflecting off the post and Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke's skate. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves for Florida (4-4-0), while Swayman stopped 19 for Boston (3-5-0).
"We came back twice … and it hurts now to not be able to finish the game," Pastrnak said. Bruins coach Jim Sturm had noted pregame that facing the Stanley Cup champion Panthers was a strong challenge amid Boston's skid. Verhaeghe's goal was his 22nd game-winner, tying Scott Mellanby for eighth in Panthers history.