In an exhilarating contest Saturday night, the Florida Panthers edged out the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in a shootout to claim their seventh consecutive victory. The game was punctuated by standout performances on both sides, particularly from Florida’s Evan Rodrigues, who assisted twice in regulation before scoring the shootout winner, and Sergei Bobrovsky, who made key stops in overtime and notched his 404th career win, moving to 12th on the all-time list ahead of Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr.
The Panthers’ offensive push began in earnest in the second period, with three different players finding the back of the net. Sam Bennett, Dmitry Kulikov, and Nate Schmidt each scored, marking the second consecutive game in which Florida tallied three goals in a single period. This trend has proven effective, as Florida holds a perfect 6-0-0 record this season when scoring at least three goals in any period.
The Flyers fought back with goals from Anthony Richard, Joel Farabee, and Garnet Hathaway, with Scott Laughton contributing two assists. Philadelphia’s resilience pushed the game into overtime, where Bobrovsky came up big with five saves to maintain the tie, setting the stage for an intense shootout.
In the tiebreaker, Aleksander Barkov and Rodrigues both found the net for the Panthers, while Philadelphia’s Owen Tippett managed to score, but it wasn’t enough. Rodrigues’ final goal in the fifth round sealed the victory for Florida, capping off an impressive performance for the forward, who recorded two assists in regulation before his shootout heroics.
With Saturday’s win, Sergei Bobrovsky achieved his 404th career victory, further cementing his legacy in NHL history as he passed Grant Fuhr to claim the 12th spot on the all-time wins list. Meanwhile, Panthers coach Paul Maurice reached a coaching milestone of his own, as the game marked his 2,000th behind the bench, including playoff appearances. Maurice joins legendary coach Scotty Bowman as only the second coach to reach this mark, underscoring his decades-long impact on the league.
For the Flyers, defensive struggles continued. Philadelphia is now 1-9-1 this season when allowing three or more goals, a statistic that underscores their need for tighter play in their own end. Goaltender Samuel Ersson was busy in the crease, making 28 saves and keeping the Flyers within reach.
A notable detail on the Panthers’ side was the return of their now-iconic robes. Initially given to the team for a trip to Finland, these robes have become a symbol of good luck, with players arriving in them for the fourth straight game. It’s a ritual they plan to keep up as long as they’re on this winning streak.
The Flyers head back to Philadelphia, where they’ll face the San Jose Sharks on Monday, kicking off a stretch that includes six of their next seven games at home. Meanwhile, the Panthers prepare to host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, beginning a two-game series that promises plenty of action as Florida seeks to extend its winning streak.
The game was a showcase of individual milestones, resilience, and team spirit as the Panthers continued to build momentum. With a perfect streak on the line and a newfound tradition to maintain, Florida fans have plenty to cheer for as the season progresses.
