BEDFORD – The Boston Bruins accomplished what any lower seed looks to achieve when they open a best-of-seven series on the road against a reigning conference champion in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Bruins returned home on Thursday afternoon with the series tied 1-1 after securing a split with the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. The Bruins and the Panthers will face off in Game 3 on Friday night (7) at the TD Garden.

“Any time you are in a series and you go on the road and take one of two, you gain home ice advantage and we love playing in front of our fans,” said Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery during a press briefing at Hanscom Field.

The Bruins exploded for three-second period goals and cruised to a 5-1 victory in Game 1. The Panthers took umbrage at being embarrassed in front of their fans and blitzed the Bruins 6-1 in a physical, penalty filled rematch that set the tone for the remainder of the series. The referees assessed misconduct penalties to six Bruins and five Panthers, a number rarely seen in the modern playoffs.

“I think it is going to be physical, both teams are physical and that is what creates great playoff hockey,” said Montgomery of Game 3. “I think Game 1 we won handily and Game 2 they won handily and now it is going to get tight.”

There was simmering bad blood between the teams that dated back to last season. The Bruins set NHL regular-season records for wins (65) and points (135) last season but were eliminated by the Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Bruins built a 3-1 series lead but were beaten 4-3 in overtime in Game 7 on April 30 at the Garden. The Bruins gained a small measure of revenge by going 4-0 against the Panthers in the regular season.

The lingering ill feelings erupted in a pair of third-period melees and culminated in an unexpected throw down between David Pastrnak and Matthew Tkachuk at 12:42. Pushback was all the Bruins had to show for themselves in Game 2.

“As the game went on you could tell it was going to be a battle and it is an exciting brand of hockey for the fans in how intense and physical it’s been,” said Bruins left wing James van Riemsdyk.

“We always pride ourselves on sticking together as a team no matter what the game brings or what that style leads to. We are ready for that and it just shows our group is very willing. We are not going to shy away from any style game that wants to be played.”

Pastrnak is a scorer, not a brawler, and he got the worst of the exchange with Tkachuk, who snuck in a couple of cheap body blows at the end when the two combatants were tangled on the ice.

“That gets you fired up when a guy like him who obviously cares and he wants to do whatever it takes to win,” said van Riemsdyk of Pastrnak. “It gets guys fired up but we obviously don’t want to see him doing that too often.”

Too many penalties

The Bruins picked up their fifth too many men on the ice penalty of the playoffs when the bench was assessed a two-minute infraction at 15:48 of the second. Montgomery routinely mixes up his lines over the course of the game and was willing to take the hit for the Bruins’ out of control problem.

“We’ve taken more in the postseason that we’ve taken in the regular season,” said Montgomery. “I take full responsibility and I have to be clear and be louder and if I have to start grabbing people’s pants so they don’t jump when they shouldn’t, I’ll start doing that.

“All of us together and the communication needs to be better and there was no excuse for the too many men. I’d like to say it will be easy to solve with our group and I think it is easy to solve. It is my responsibility to make them better in those areas.”

Goalie shuffle?

Montgomery would not disclose whether he plans to start Jeremy Swayman or Linus Ullmark in net for Game 3.

Swayman has started eight games and is 5-3 with stellar numbers in goals against average (1.81) and save percentage (.942). But Montgomery replaced him with Ullmark after the Panthers’ fourth goal at 1:28 of the third period. Swayman made 19 saves before getting the hook. Ullmark gave up two goals on 10 shots.

“It is the strength of our team, our biggest strength is we have two great goalies,” said Montgomery.

Sorry, Charlie

Montgomery fielded a number of inquiries about the disturbing subpar play of defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who logged a below average 18:36 minutes and was a minus two in the loss.

“I think McAvoy has been a horse for us in the playoffs,” said Montgomery. “Did he have his best game last night? No, but I don’t think there was a Bruin who, except for maybe Swayman, had his best game last night.

“I think fatigue factors and he’s our biggest numbers cruncher. He’ll be ready (Friday) night.”

Bruins GM Don Sweeney announced the team has assigned forward Patrick Brown to Providence, a move that could facilitate the return of winger Danton Heinen’s to the lineup for Game 3. Heinen has missed four straight playoffs games with an undisclosed injury.

“I think day-to-day is his updated prognosis,” said Montgomery.