Nikita Zadorov quickly made a name for himself among Bruins fans and teammates with a fiery moment at the end of Boston’s 3-2 comeback victory over the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. With the final seconds ticking away, the Bruins’ defenseman unleashed two years of pent-up frustration from Boston fans with a decisive fight.
For the past couple of seasons, Sam Bennett has been the most despised player among Bruins supporters whenever Boston faces Florida. Known for his dirty, underhanded plays—including a controversial cheap shot on Brad Marchand during last year’s playoffs—Bennett has consistently been a thorn in the Bruins’ side. His aggressive playstyle, combined with his offensive contributions against Boston, made him the prime target for retaliation, even more so than his teammate Matthew Tkachuk.
Despite this being Zadorov’s first season in Boston, it hasn’t been the smoothest for the physical defenseman. However, in the closing moments of the game against Florida, he had seen enough. With just 3.3 seconds left on the clock, Zadorov challenged Bennett, and the two dropped the gloves in front of the Bruins’ net. The Boston blueliner wasted no time, landing a couple of strong punches that sent Bennett to the ice.
True to his reputation, Bennett attempted to get in a few extra hits once the officials intervened, but by then, the damage was done—Zadorov had sent a message. The fight electrified both the crowd and the Bruins’ bench, bringing a level of intensity the team had been missing.
“I haven’t been that fired up in a long time,” said defenseman Mason Lohrei. “That was unbelievable.”
Lohrei wasn’t the only one feeling the adrenaline. After a week filled with trade activity and uncertainty, it was a refreshing sight for Bruins fans to see their team literally going down swinging. Zadorov’s brawl with Bennett symbolized the fight and grit the Black and Gold faithful had been yearning for, making it a defining moment in the game.
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