A pair of Atlantic Division rivals face off on Tuesday, March 11 when the
Florida Panthers visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Boston. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on
NESN and WFTX-TV . Fans looking to watch this Bruins game can do so for free by using
FuboTV (up to $25 off first month) or
DirecTV Stream , which both offer a free trial.
SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available for streaming the game. This is the first meeting between these squads since the
trade that sent Brad Marchand to Florida after spending
all 16 seasons of his career in Boston . The Panthers are at the top of the Atlantic currently, 2 points up on the Toronto Maple Leafs and are hoping Marchand’s addition can propel them to a third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance and potentially a second consecutive Cup win. The Bruins are 29-28-8 and clinging on for life in the playoff race. They are 4 points back of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild card spot, but the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are all also battling for that spot and currently ahead of Boston in the standings.
Betting: Check out our
MA sports betting guide , where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream is an internet TV service that offers your favorite entertainment, news and sports channels, as well as local TV stations and
regional sports networks . DirecTV Stream can be purchased for $79.98/month for your first two months when you sign up for the ENTERTAINMENT package and
add DIRECTV Sports Pack. What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is a streaming service that has made a significant mark in the United States live sports market. It offers a range of pricing plans: The basic plan, the “Pro” package, provides an assortment of channels, including sports, news, and entertainment options like Showtime for
$79.99 per month. What is SlingTV?
Here’s what you can watch on Sling TV,
with plans starting at $40 : Baseball (MLB), Basketball (NBA, NCAAB), Combat Sports (Boxing, UFC, MMA), Football (NCAAF, NFL), Golf, Hockey, Motorsports, Olympics, Soccer, Tennis and Wrestling. Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended 20 games without pay Monday for violating the NHL and NHL Players' Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, taking him off the ice for the defending Stanley Cup champions' stretch run and start of the playoffs. Ekblad in a statement through the NHLPA said the news that he had failed a random drug test shocked him, and he apologized for the error. “Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel,” Ekblad said. “I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.” Ekblad, 29, missed eight of nine games during a stretch in January because of an undisclosed upper-body injury. The Panthers have 18 games left in the regular season, so Ekblad would then miss the first two games of the first round before being eligible to return. The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, Ekblad has played his entire career with Florida, including a prominent role in the first Cup run in franchise history. He had 33 points in 56 games this season before getting suspended. A message sent to the Panthers seeking comment was not immediately returned. The NHL said it would have no further comment beyond the announcement. Prior to the trade deadline, the Panthers acquired another right-shooting defenseman, Seth Jones, though it was unclear when the team learned of Ekblad’s positive test result and ensuing punishment. Ekblad is the first NHL player to be suspended for violating the league’s PED policy since Nate Schmidt in 2018, when he was unable to play in exhibition games and then missed the first 20 of the regular season. Schmidt was with Vegas at the time, coming off helping the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, and is now teammates with Ekblad on the Panthers. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, a player’s first positive test results in a 20-game suspension. A second is 60 games and a third triggers a lifetime ban. Ekblad’s suspension comes with a mandatory referral for evaluation and possible treatment under a league and players union program for substance abuse and behavioral health. AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
