Matthew Tkachuk with stunning admission ahead of Game 3 in Boston!

No one expected him but Game 2 of the second round series between the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins offered fans a hectic third period with star players Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak fighting each other. Tkachuk landed a couple of right-hand blows before Pastrnak fell to the ice in a 6-1 for Florida as the series now shifts to Boston.

Ahead of Game 3, Tkachuk spoke about the fight and what more can be expected from the heated series, and stunned reporters by giving Pastrnak his flowers.

“Give him tons and tons of respect,” Tkachuk started off. “Two guys that aren’t known for fighting, me and him, and two players that are probably known more for their offensive side of the game. Tons of respect for him.”

“We weren’t going out there to play patty-cake or anything. We were going out there to have some fun in the fight and try to land some punches. Tons of respect to him for wanting to do that.”

“Both emotional guys that are leaders for our teams that really just want to show we’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Tkachuk added. “We weren’t going out there to play patty-cake or anything. We were going out there to have some fun in the fight and try to land some punches. Tons of respect to him for wanting to do that.”

Tkachuk explained how he challenged Pasta to the fight and how the Bruins’ forward felt he needed to answer the call for his team. Before getting things started, Pastrnak made sure he had his head coach Jim Montgomery’s blessing when he turned to him before jumping on the ice and dropping the gloves with Tkachuk.

“I’m proud of Pasta,” Montgomery said post-game. “There are so many players pushing after the whistle when the linesmen are there. Pasta and Tkachuk just went out and fought.

“You like your hockey players to be competitors.”

The Bruins and Panthers face off later tonight in Boston, and it just feels like more of this heated rivalry will be on display at the TD Garden.

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