Sunrise, Fla. – Brad Merchand was once considered the bad guy in South Florida.
Now he enjoys playing the role of a hero.
The veteran, who made his long-awaited debut after being bought out by the Boston Bruins at a trade deadline, supported Sam Bennett’s goal at 4:18 overtime to get the Florida Panthers 2-1 win at the Amerant Bank Arena on Friday.
The victory brought the Panthers back to first place in the Atlantic Division 44-25-3.
“It was a huge difference to have Panthers fans cheered on, but that’s a great feeling,” said Merchand, who previously played in Boston. “I don’t often get to be part of a group like this. I’ve been on a lot of teams over the years, and when I step into a special room, that’s what I know they’re here.
During the first period, both teams came and went without breaking the ice.
The biggest cheers in the rather quiet opening 20 minutes were for Kevin Stenland.
A key member of the team that won last year’s Stanley Cup, Stenlund joined Utah as a free agent this summer, receiving a warm reception in the first game of the sunrise.
“He was a large part of our group last year and was a big reason why we won,” defensive man Gustav Volling said of his former teammate.
Out in a very hot place to begin the second period, Bennett tapped a pass from Alexander Barkov at Panplay at Pansands to get 1-0 at 2:28.
