The Florida Panthers rebounded from a shaky stretch to secure a 6-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. The game, highlighted by a dynamic third-period performance from A.J. Greer and Anton Lundell, marked a turning point for the Panthers as they bounced back from a four-game losing streak.
After squandering a two-goal lead, the Panthers found themselves tied 3-3 midway through the final period. But Greer and Lundell ignited Florida’s resurgence, scoring 4:10 apart to seal the win. Lundell, who also registered an assist, delivered a crucial short-handed goal, bringing the Panthers’ league-leading tally to seven for the season.
Lundell’s short-handed strike was a pivotal moment. It capped off a 2-on-1 rush just as the Panthers were finishing a penalty kill, further dampening Carolina’s comeback hopes.
In addition to Greer and Lundell, Jesper Boqvist, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Bennett also found the net for Florida. Bennett’s empty-netter in the final minutes secured the Panthers’ second consecutive win. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad chipped in two assists, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was solid in net, making 28 saves.
Sam Reinhart’s consistent scoring has been a bright spot for Florida. With his 18th goal of the season, Reinhart leads the NHL in goals and has scored in seven of his last nine games.
The loss snapped Carolina’s nine-game home-ice winning streak, the second-longest in franchise history. Despite the setback, the Hurricanes showed resilience, rallying from a two-goal deficit for the third consecutive game. However, their comeback efforts fell short this time.
Seth Jarvis, Sean Walker, and Eric Robinson scored for the Hurricanes, while Shayne Gostisbehere added two assists. Goaltender Spencer Martin stopped 24 shots in a challenging outing.
Winning back-to-back games after dropping six of their previous seven could provide the momentum Florida needs to stabilize their season. Lundell’s performance was a highlight, as he ended a personal scoring slump with his third-period heroics.
While the team’s power play has been a consistent threat, scoring in five straight games, their inability to close out games remains a concern. Carolina’s rally fell short as their defensive lapses in the third period proved costly.
The Panthers’ special teams played a critical role. Their penalty kill was particularly impressive, especially during a 5-on-3 situation in the first period that helped maintain an early lead. Despite this, Florida has struggled on the penalty kill recently, allowing a power-play goal in five of their last six games.
The Panthers and Hurricanes won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as they meet again on Saturday in Florida. Both teams will look to fine-tune their strategies as they aim to solidify their standings in the competitive Eastern Conference.
For the Panthers, this win serves as a much-needed confidence boost. They’ll hope to carry this momentum forward, while the Hurricanes will seek to regroup and reestablish their dominance on home ice.
