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Joonas Korpisalo reacts to Bruins goaltending by Sam Bennett

Joonas Korpisalo reacts to Bruins goaltending by Sam Bennett

Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues scored 6:26 into the third period against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, but he missed wasn't the end of the piece.

Things immediately went from bad to worse for Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo when Sam Bennett charged in and ran over Korpisalo with his lamp already lit.

A scrum ensued in which Mason Lohrei fired a few shots at Bennett while Korpisalo was on the ice. Korpisalo escaped the collision unscathed after being looked at by a member of the Bruins' practice squad, while Bennett was assessed a roughing penalty.

It is unclear whether Bennett had enough space to try to avoid Korpisalo, who was at the top of the goal area, and Korpisalo did not want to speculate on that and appeared to give Bennett the benefit of the doubt.

“I was just trying to focus on the puck and didn’t really see what was happening,” Korpisalo told reporters, according to NESN’s postgame coverage. “I don't think anyone wants to intentionally run over the goalkeeper. So I don’t know what happened.”

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Bennett's attack on Korpisalo, who made 29 saves, wasn't the only notable encounter in Boston's 6-4 season-opening loss at Amerant Bank Arena.

It looked like Trent Frederic and Matthew Tkachuk would fight in the first period, but only Frederic dropped the gloves, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the Bruins forward. Frederic called out Tkachuk for not engaging with him after the game.

Bruins newcomer Mark Kastelic and former Bruins forward AJ Greer dropped the gloves just 5:55 minutes into the first frame, setting the tone for a physical duel between the two rivals.

Bennett's latest actions will continue to make him an enemy of the Boston fan base. Bruins fans certainly haven't forgotten the hit he hit on Brad Marchand in last year's playoffs.

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Perhaps the Bruins have adopted Bennett's number – he scored two goals in Florida's win – and will try to get revenge on him when the two teams play at TD Garden next Monday.

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