In a thrilling comeback, the Florida Panthers overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat the New York Islanders 6-3 on Saturday night. Matthew Tkachuk’s two goals, along with Sam Bennett’s third-period go-ahead score, led the defending Stanley Cup Champions to their second straight victory.
The Islanders surged early in the first period, scoring three goals against Panthers’ goalie Spencer Knight. Dennis Cholowski, Kyle Palmieri, and Brock Nelson each netted a goal, putting New York in a commanding 3-0 lead on just seven shots. However, Knight rebounded from this rocky start, denying the next 22 attempts by the Islanders and ultimately finishing with 25 saves.
Florida answered back, led by Tkachuk’s tenacity, who buried a loose puck behind Islanders’ goalie Semyon Varlamov to reduce the gap to one by the end of the second period. Sam Bennett, filling in with captain Aleksander Barkov out, continued his hot streak, scoring for the fourth consecutive game, including a pivotal go-ahead goal early in the third period.
Rounding out the offensive surge, Mackie Samoskevich scored his first NHL goal, and Sam Reinhart contributed with a tally of his own. Defenseman Gustav Forsling closed out the scoring, adding a shorthanded, empty-net goal in the final minutes to ensure the Panthers’ rally would end in a decisive victory.
Islanders’ Struggles with Leads: The Islanders, led by head coach Patrick Roy, once again struggled to protect their early advantage. This has been an ongoing issue for New York, as they’ve struggled to maintain leads, a pattern dating back to Lane Lambert’s tenure after Barry Trotz was dismissed in 2022.
Bennett Steps Up: Sam Bennett has been instrumental in Barkov’s absence, providing stability and energy in the center position. His goal on Saturday marked his fourth straight game finding the net, and his presence on the ice was critical in rallying the Panthers.
Defensive Resilience by Knight: After allowing three quick goals, Knight showcased resilience, not allowing another goal for the remainder of the game. His composure helped solidify the Panthers’ defense and allowed the team to mount their comeback.
Momentum Swing: Florida’s comeback marked an impressive six unanswered goals after being down 3-0.
Islanders’ Scoring Inconsistencies: New York has managed three or more goals in five of their eight games but was shut out in the other three, underscoring a need for consistency.
The Florida Panthers will head to Buffalo for a Tuesday night matchup, while the Islanders conclude their brief home stand against the Anaheim Ducks.
With this win, the Panthers showed why they’re considered a formidable force in the NHL, rallying for an impressive comeback victory on the road.
