Finally healthy, Panthers come flying out of holiday pause with a couple big wins on home ice
After shuffling nearly a dozen players in and out of COVID-19 protocols over the past several weeks, a replenished Florida roster resumed its post-Christmas schedule with back-to-back home games against two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Quenneville's meeting with Bettman may decide Florida fate
The Panthers are rolling this season but coach Joel Quenneville being named in a report detailing how the Chicago Blackhawks mishandled sexual assault allegations that an assistant on his staff sexually assaulted a player during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010 could derail Florida's hopes.
Driedger gets third shutout as Panthers beat Lightning 4-0
Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season, Juho Lammikko scored a short-handed goal, and the Florida Panthers secured home-ice advantage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale for both clubs.
Barkov’s short-handed goal leads first place Panthers over Blackhawks
Jonathan Huberdeau celebrates his third period goal with Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers against the Chicago Blackhawks at the BB&T Center on January 17, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – Aleksander Barkov scored a tiebreaking short-handed goal in the third period, and the Florida Panthers beat the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. It was the Panthers’ first short-handed goal this season. Down 3-1, the Panthers scored five unanswered goals to win their fourth straight game. Patrick Kane, Philipp Kurashev and Brandon Hagel scored for the Blackhawks, who lost for the fourth time in five games.
Huberdeau’s big night leads first place Panthers past Carolina in overtime
Huberdeau scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Florida Panthers came from behind to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Wednesday in Raleigh. The win vaulted Florida (10-2-2) into sole possession of first place in the Central Division, one point ahead of idle Tampa Bay and Carolina. “Really good start to our season,” Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said afterwards. Jonathan Huberdeau is filthy pic.twitter.com/8pZzhdlbxd — Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) February 18, 2021Stop what you're doing and watch this pass from Huberdeau. That puts him on pace for 80 points this season (56 games) or 117 points over a traditional 82-game schedule.
Panthers beat Lightning 5-2 to open 3-game set
Jonathan Huberdeau congratulates Patric Hornqvist of the Florida Panthers after he scored a third period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at the BB&T Center on January 17, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – Aaron Ekblad and Alex Wennberg each had a goal and an assist and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on Thursday night. Braden Point scored twice for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 24 saves. The Lighting had won six straight, averaging 4.5 goals per game during the win streak. The teams will meet again Saturday night in Sunrise and Monday night in Tampa.