SUNRISE — Despite conceding five times on the penalty kill, the Florida Panthers kept themselves in Friday night’s game until the final seconds before falling 6-4 to the Minnesota Wild. 

 

Florida has dropped their past four games — all of which were at home — sliding to 27-14-4 on the season.

 

“Losing four in a row is tough,” Aaron Ekblad said. “Holding ourselves accountable to the hard, tough, strong, resilient, responsible game is important. We’re going to have to get back to scoring the first goal, taking care of leads, not taking penalties.”

 

Minnesota scored their first five goals of the game on the power play. It wasn’t until 11.8 seconds remaining in the game where they’d score their only non special team’s goal, by way of a Ryan Hartman empty netter. 

 

The Wild were 5/6 on the man-advantage while the Panthers went 0/4. This was the first time all season where the Panthers conceded more than twice on the penalty kill. 

 

Kirill Kaprizov and Ryan Hartman scored twice for the Wild. Joel Eriksson Ek, and Mats Zuccarello also scored. The Wild’s power play success had them up 5-2 early in the third period. 

 

After going down 5-2, Anton Lundell and Gustav Forsling scored 17 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game with just under 12 minutes to go in regulation.  Eetu Luostarinen and Aaron Ekblad scored the other two Panthers goals. Ekblad tied his career-high with four-points in the game. 

 

“Lundell was good… I liked Aaron Ekblad getting up the ice. Four-point night for him is real good,” coach Paul Maurice said. “After that we won’t be bragging about this one. This was a tough one for us.”

 

Lundell’s goal was his first since Nov. 22 on Friday. He had two points on the night, his first multi-point night since Dec. 8.

 

“I feel like we gave everything in the third. It wasn’t enough,” Lundell said. “We gave them too much in the start and today was too hard to get it back.”

 

The Panthers had 19 shots in the final period. 15 of Minnesota’s 26 shots came on the power play.

 

After cutting the deficit to one, the Panthers were pushing the Wild all period — controlling plenty of o-zone time with the goaltender pulled.

 

Filip Gustavsson made a few big saves down the stretch to keep the Wild ahead and Ryan Hartman iced off the game with an empty netter.

 

Game Notes

The Panthers were without captain Aleksander Barkov (lower-body) for a second consecutive game. 

 

Will Lockwood left the game in the first period and did not return after getting knocked down in a fight with Wild forward Brandon Duhaime.  Maurice said an update on Lockwood would be provided on Saturday.

 

Both starting goalies left the game Friday night. The Panthers pulled Sergei Bobrovsky after he conceded his fourth goal of the night. Anthony Stolarz took over the crease. 

 

Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury pulled himself from the game the same time Bobrovksy left. Filip Gustavsson took over the net for Minnesota. 

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers dropped their second straight game on Monday, losing 5-4 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks. 

 

The Ducks overcame two, two-goal deficits as they handed the Panthers their second consecutive loss. 

 

Alex Killorn scored twice, including the OT winner as the Ducks picked up their 15th win of the season. 

 

Florida dropped to 27-13-3 with the loss.

 

Here’s three game takeaways.

 

Sam Bennett lights the lamp twice

Panthers forward Sam Bennett scored twice on Monday — leading all Panthers in goals

 

Bennett opened the game’s scoring on the power play with his ninth goal of the season 8:29 into the first.

 

He would score his tenth of the season 12:49 into the second — giving the Panthers a 4-2 lead. 

 

“I think our line is finding our chemistry that we ended the year with,” Bennett said. “We’re feeling good together. We’re making plays again and I’m enjoying playing with those guys.” 

 

The Bennett, Verhaeghe, Tkachuk line combined for five points.

 

“Well they’re going,” coach Paul Maurice spoke of the line, “We’ve got that line going, we’re gonna get the Lundell line going.”

 

Special Teams Puck 

Monday’s matinee wasn’t forgiving for those who don’t play special teams minutes.

 

There were a total of nine power plays and 15 penalties between the sides. The Ducks went to the man-advantage five times to the Panthers’ four. 

 

Both teams scored once while shorthanded. The Panthers won the power play battle, capitalizing twice with the extra man. Anaheim went 0/5 on the powerplay.

 

While the Panthers PK continued their stronghold and the power play scored multiple goals, it still wasn’t enough on Monday for the Panthers.

 

No lead Too Big, No Lead Too Safe

The earlier than usual start time (1 p.m. puck drop) led to an even more unusual game.

 

Florida opened the game with consecutive goals from the Sams — Bennett and Reinhart. 

 

Considering how solid the Panthers have been defensively this season, the early 2-0 lead looked to be the beginning of a runaway.

 

That was until Alex Killorn got the Ducks on the board with 4 seconds remaining in the first — on just their fourth shot of the game. 

 

Anaheim would carry the momentum of Killorn’s late goal into the second.

 

Adam Henrique scored his 11th goal of the season 5:24 into the period — tying the game at 2-2.

 

“I think we took it too lightly,” Bennett said. “We got up by a couple goals and started playing a little too comfortable.”

 

Florida didn’t let the erasure of their two goal lead affect them too much however.  

 

Carter Verheaghe reclaimed the Panthers lead with his 23rd goal of the year 9:36 into the period. Bennett would once again double Florida’s lead three minutes later with his second of the game.

 

The Panthers lost their first two-goal advantage, but after getting it back, surely it wouldn’t happen again. 

 

It happened again. 

 

Jakob Silfverberg cut the deficit to one before the second intermission, then Troy Terry tied the game 3:45 into the third. 

 

 “I think we weren’t playing hard enough,” Verheaghe said. “I think we were a little sloppy in some areas. We got a little run and gun.”

 

Florida would pick up a point in overtime, but the Ducks took the win off of Alex Killorn’s game winner. 

 

Panthers Notes

Captain Aleksander Barkov didn’t play in the final five-plus minutes on Monday. Coach Paul Maurice said it was a precautionary move and that they expect him to play Wednesday against Detroit.

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers were back at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night to deliver another Cardiac Cats worthy performance in their 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Matthew Tkachuk tied the game late to force overtime and Sam Reinhart won it with 0.7 seconds remaining. 

 

The Panthers extended their season best win streak to nine straight with the victory.

 

Here’s some takeaways from the game. 

 

Sam Bennett gets eighth goal of the season

Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk have been having a ball as of late in the points department. 

 

Entering Thursday’s matchup against the Kings,  Tkachuk had 13 points in his last five games, while Verhaeghe had 10 points.

 

The third member of that Florida second line, Sam Bennett, had less of an offensive impact over that span with four points.

 

With the Panthers trailing 1-0 against the Kings, Bennett would tie the game with his eighth goal of the season 10:58 into the second. 

 

As Florida’s power play winded down, Bennett led the rush through the neural zone, drove the net and deflated in Eetu Luostarinen’s pass to get the Panthers on the board. 

 

Bennett has 15 points in 29 games this season.

 

Tkachuk saves the day

We’ve already highlighted the great stretch Matthew Tkachuk has had over the last few contests. 

 

He did it again on Thursday.

 

Down one, goalie pulled, Florida needed a goal. Tkachuk delivered. 

 

With 2:18 left in the third, Carter Verheaghe fired a shot near the right circle and Tkachuk got a stick on it to deflect the puck up and over Cam Talbot –tying the game at 2-2.

 

“[We] just try to throw everything at the net and get people to the net,” Tkachuk said when recalling the goal. “Luckily it hit off my stick.”

 

Tkachuk extended his point streak to seven and goal streak to five on Thursday. Verhaeghe also extended his point streak to seven.  

 

Sam Reinhart hits 30 goals, scores last-second OT winner 

Florida clawed back to tie the game with 2:18 left in the third period to force over time.

 

In the extra frame, the Panthers got a glorious opportunity —  they’d go to the power play with 1:23 remaining after Adrian Kempe cross-checked Brandon Montour. 

 

On the 4-on-3 power play, Florida wasn’t generating a whole lot of offense, getting just one shot on goal on the power play until the final seconds. 

 

With the clock running down, LA cleared the zone one final time. With just a few seconds remaining, it seemed as if this game was going to a shootout. 

 

The Florida crowd urged the Panthers to make one final push — and they did. 

 

After entering the zone with less than ten seconds to go , Aleksander Barkov hit Sam Reinhart in front of the Kings’ net. 

 

Reinhart wired a backhand shot top shelf over Cam Talbot, beating the clock with just 0.7 seconds remaining to win the game, and get his 30th goal of the season. 

 

“It’s going well for us. We’re really in the moment, taking it day by day,” Reinhart said. “This was a really tough test… I liked our battle, I liked our compete.”

 

After tonight’s contest, Reinhart has scored 30 goals, 53 points in 41 games. He’s on pace for 60 and 106. 

 

Panthers notes

Florida is back at home on Saturday, Jan. 13 against the New Jersey Devils

 

Sam Reinhart is second in the NHL with 30 goals

 

Sergei Bobrovsky won his 21st game of the season.

The Florida Panthers scored three times on the power play and went perfect on the penalty kill in their 4-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

 

The Panthers are riding a season best six-game win streak. They improved to 24-12-2 on the season with the win and are just two points behind the Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. 

 

Sergei Bobrovsky had 26 saves in his 19th win of the season. The Panthers’ goalie has won his last five starts.

 

Thursday’s win marked the first time the Panthers defeated the Knights in Vegas.

 

“I think we played a really good team effort,” Bobrovsky said. “Penalty kill was on, the power play was great as well. We beat a good team. It’s a really tough building to get the win, so we’re really happy.”

 

Florida’s second line of Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk carried the bulk of the offense on Thursday. All three players scored against the Knights. 

 

Tkachuk had two points, while scoring in consecutive games for the first time this season. Tkachuk extended his point-streak to four games — picking up six points over that span. 

 

Verhaeghe got his 20th goal of the season and finished the night with two points. Verhaeghe has hit the 20 goal mark in each of his last three seasons with the Panthers.

 

Florida’s leading scorer Sam Reinhart grabbed his 25th of the season 5:23 in the third to make the game 4-1. Reinhart, who was named an All-Star for the first time in his career on Thursday, has the third most goals in the NHL. 

 

The Panthers shut it down defensively and scored four unanswered goals after Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring 3:59 into the game for the Knights. 

 

Florida’s special teams played a huge part in the win on Thursday. The Panthers scored three times on the power play and killed off all six of their penalties — two of which were 5-on-3 advantages for the Knights. 

 

“[The] Powerplay did a really good job tonight, but it’s hard to not talk about how great the PK and Bob were,” Tkachuk said. “That 5-on-3, two of them, that was the difference in the game. Our PK has been unreal honestly the whole year.”

 

Florida played most of the game missing two of their top-line forwards. Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov left the game in the first after taking an accidental elbow to the face behind the play. Evan Rodrigues would also leave the game after blocking a shot in the first. Neither player finished the game. 

 

Panthers coach Paul Maurice couldn’t provide an update on either player after the game. He said they’ll have an update on Friday. 

 

Florida won the first two of their four-game Western Conference road trip by a combined score of 8-2. They’ll finish the trip with games against the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues.  

 

Panthers Notes

F,Nick Cousins, did not play against Vegas (Concussion Protocol)

F, Jonah Gadjovich, played in first game since Dec. 8

Panthers are second place in Atlantic, third in East

SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers ended 2023 with another win, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night. 

 

Eetu Luostarinen had two goals, including the game winner and Anthony Stolarz had 18 saves in his fifth win of the season. The Panthers improved to 22-12-2.

 

Here’s three takeaways.

 

Two Power play goals for Luostarinen 

After a scoreless first period, Eetu Luosatrinen gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead on the power play 4:05 into the second.

 

While falling backwards, Luostarinen batted a puck from midair past Canadiens’ goaltender  Jake Allen for his sixth goal of the season. 

 

Cole Caufield would answer back for Montreal with his own power play goal at the 7:05 mark of the period —  tying the game at 1 -1. 

 

The score would remain the same up to the 7:34 mark of the third period. On Florida’s third power play of the night, Luostarinen would score his second goal of the night, also coming on the powerplay. Florida went up 2-1. 

 

When on the power play, Luostarinen is usually out with the second unit, so the chance to get a pair of special team’s goals doesn’t come too often. Saturday was also the first multi-goal game of Luostarinen’s career.

“Obviously it’s nice to be on that power play and taking advantage of it,” Luostarinen said. 

 

The Panthers went 2/3 on the man-advantage.

 

Panthers’ fourth line has solid game

Florida’s fourth line of Will Lockwood, Kevin Stenlund and Ryan Lomberg have gelled nicely together since being put together two weeks ago.

 

On their first shift of the game, Lockwood dropped the gloves with Montreal’s Micheal Pezzeta — who has about 35 pounds on him.

 

“He’s doing everything he possibly can to become a permanent fixture here,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “He shows up on that wing and all of a sudden that line’s got an identity.”

 

The trio combined for 6 of Florida’s 26 total shots on goal, with Lomberg’s four shots all Panthers skaters.

 

“I enjoy sending them on the ice,” Maurice added. “I’m looking forward to see what’s going to happen. I know they’re going to go fast and who knows what else is going to happen. It’s fun to watch.”

 

Maurice has spoken highly of this line for the last few weeks now. It looks like they’ll be sticking together for a bit.

 

Florida wins four straight 

Just two weeks ago, the Panthers were in the middle of their worst stretch of hockey all season.

 

Florida was 1-4-0 from Dec. 12-21, scoring just twice in the four losses. 

 

On Dec. 23, with the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in town, the Panthers played one of their better games of the season, leading to a 4-2 win. 

 

The Panthers would then win their next three contests, beating the Lightning on the road and then both the Rangers and the Canadiens at home. 

 

Winners of their last four to end 2023, the Panthers are standing near the top of the Eastern conference with 46 points in 36 games — only behind the Rangers and Bruins.

 

“Our team’s playing really good hockey right now,” Sam Bennett said. “We’ll have some confidence going into this road trip for sure.”

 

This stretch of wins is huge going forward as the Panthers will be on the road for their next four games, all against quality opponents; Coyotes, Golden Knights, Avalanche and the Blues. 

 

Panthers Notes

Eetu Luostarinen scored twice, Sam Bennett had the Panthers’ third goal and Carter Verhaeghe iced it away with an empty netter in the 4-1 win. 

 

The Panthers next game will be Jan. 2 in Arizona against the Coyotes.