Panthers top Bruins

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers became the 14th team in NHL history to start 7-0-0 by beating the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Wednesday night — with coach Joel Quenneville on the bench a day after he was named in a report about the Chicago Blackhawks improperly handling sexual assault claims.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for the Panthers, and Eetu Luostarinen scored the go-ahead goal. Anthony Duclair and Mason Marchment also scored, and Owen Tippett added an empty-net goal. Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling each had two assists.

Charlie Coyle scored for the Bruins, and Linus Ullmark made 23 saves in his third consecutive start.

Quenneville is scheduled to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday about the report, which detailed an investigation into how the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks — the team Quenneville coached to the Stanley Cup — did not promptly and properly handle sexual assault claims a player made against an assistant coach.

Leading 2-1, the Panthers stretched their lead on Duclair’s goal. Her brought the puck from the side boards, skated in quickly and backhanded the puck past Ullmark with 7:20 left in the third. Tippett’s empty-netter with 25.4 seconds provided the final score.

The Panthers took a 2-1 lead after Luostarinen’s goal at 14:16 of the second. Reinhart passed from behind the goal line to Luostarinen in front, who poked in the puck past Ullmark.

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the goal by Coyle at 10:37 of the first. Coyle passed from behind the net and the puck bounced off a Panthers player and into the net.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Visit Carolina on Thursday.

Panthers: Visit Detroit on Friday.