Elias Lindholm scores 1st of Boston's 3 goals in 1st period, carrying Bruins past Panthers, 4-1

BOSTON (AP) — Elias Lindholm, Mikey Eyssimont and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal in an opening period that started out testy, carrying the Boston Bruins past the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday.

Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves, 17 coming in the first period, for the Bruins, who improved to 7-0-0 at home by winning their fourth straight game a day after placing young star James Hagens on injured reserve.

JJ Peterka added a goal for Boston, which owns a plus-21 goal differential at TD Garden. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each added two assists.

Carter Verhaeghe scored a power-play goal for the Panthers, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 shots. Florida has lost three of four games.

Boston’s 6-foot-7 defenseman Nikita Zadorov dropped the gloves against 6-foot-1 forward Brady Tkachuk at the opening faceoff, setting the stage for 126 total penalty minutes.

Just over six minutes later, Florida’s Garnet Hathaway squared off against forward Mark Kastelic.

The Panthers swept the three games against Boston last season, winning each by one goal.

Following a lengthy review, Lindholm was credited with a goal that made it 1-0 just 4:50 into the game after his wrister broke off Markstrom and trickled behind him, nearing the goal line as he attempted to pull it back with his glove.

Eyssimont poked a loose puck into the net following his wraparound shot, making it 2-0 less than two minutes later.

Geekie then scored for the fourth straight game, one-timing a shot for a power-play goal at 15:59 with the Bruins on a two-man advantage.

Verhaeghe’s one-timer cut it to 3-1.

The Bruins, who entered with the NHL’s second-best goal differential behind Carolina, were off since rolling to a 6-2 victory at Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Panthers: Close their three-game road trip Tuesday at Columbus.

Bruins: Play the second of four straight at home Thursday, facing longtime rival Montreal.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Florida Panthers' Jacob Markstrom (25) blocks a shot by Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)

Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates with Brady Tkachuk (8), Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Sam Reinhart (13) after his goal against the Boston Bruins during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)

Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie (39) celebrates with David Pastrnak (88) and Elias Lindholm (28) after his goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)

Florida Panthers Brady Tkachuk (8) and Boston Bruins' Nikita Zadorov (91) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)

Boston Bruins' Elias Lindholm (28) shoots and scores past Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Larson is now a three-time NASCAR champion.

Larson clinched his third Cup Series title in six years early in the 400-mile season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.

Larson became the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2010; Johnson won five in a row beginning in 2006.

The 34-year-old Larson became the 11th driver in NASCAR history with three Cup titles, joining a list that includes seven-time champs Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Johnson. Jeff Gordon has four. Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough. Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano also have three.

Larson was the overwhelming favorite to hoist the Bill France Cup in Homestead long before the green flag dropped.

He entered the weekend with a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell and needed only nine points to wrap up the title. He got one point for starting the race and earned seven more by finishing fourth in the opening stage. But because Bell didn't win the stage, there was no way for him to catch him the rest of the day.

Larson put himself in position for his latest title with a historic postseason, dubbed NASCAR’s Chase for the championship. He ended a 51-race winless skid by winning three of the previous nine playoff events and finished in the top 10 in eight of them.

He enjoyed a similar finish while winning it all in 2021, his first season at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. He won four of the last five races — including the finale at Phoenix Raceway — while still dealing with questions about how his time ended at Chip Ganassi Racing.

His second title came in stunning fashion last year at Phoenix. He took advantage of a late caution — his crew put on two new tires instead of four — and leaped sentimental favorite Denny Hamlin on pit road with two laps to go. Hamlin didn’t have enough time to catch Larson.

Larson’s third title was far less shocking. Securing the title was so much of a slam dunk that Larson was the only Cup driving invited to NASCAR’s championship media day Thursday, leading to a parade event that Larson called awkward.

The biggest question was how Larson and his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team would handle the pressure. Larson put that to rest during qualifying Saturday.

“They were debating on if a hot dog is a sandwich and if cereal is a soup,” Larson said. “So I would say they were pretty relaxed. I was surprised by all that.”

Where did Larson weigh in on the discussion?

“The hot dog is not a sandwich and absolutely cereal is not a soup,” he said.

A better question: How does Larson compare to the best drivers in motorsports history?

Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Tony Stewart are widely regarded as the best of the best, guys who proved their worth by winning across varying racing series.

Jones won in sprint cars and stock cars around the same time he won the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Andretti won four IndyCar titles, the 1967 Daytona 500 and the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Foyt won four Indy 500s and the 1972 Daytona 500. Stewart won the 1997 IndyCar championship, three Cup Series titles and is currently racing dragsters at the top level, the NHRA.

Larson raced twice at the Indy 500 and has won just about dirt-racing events around the world.

He’s already in elite company with three Cup titles.

“He wins in everything he does, and they’re all completely different cars and tracks,” retired driver and current NBC Sports race analyst Jeff Burton said. “And he’s racing against the best in every discipline.”

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Kyle Larson (5) competes in the NASCAR Championship auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Driver Kyle Larson is introduced before the NASCAR Championship auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Kyle Larson films with a crew in front of the championship trophy, the Bill France Cup, during media day for the NASCAR Championship, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Palm trees rise behind a NASCAR sign as crews prepare ahead of NASCAR Championship weekend, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Kyle Larson speaks to journalists during media day for the NASCAR Championship, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)