Matthew Tkachuk continued his red-hot streak, scoring twice as the Florida Panthers dismantled the Minnesota Wild 6-1 on Wednesday night. The win was a showcase of offensive firepower and defensive dominance, with standout performances from multiple Panthers players, including goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 26 saves.
Tkachuk, who now has 13 goals this season, has been on a tear, scoring eight times in his past eight games. His first goal came with 4:32 left in the second period, shortly after a Florida goal was overturned via replay for offside. Tkachuk responded emphatically, adding his second goal just over three minutes later after serving a roughing penalty.
Aaron Ekblad had a breakout night with a goal and two assists, marking his second tally of the season. Mackie Samoskevich, Niko Mikkola, and Eetu Luostarinen also found the back of the net for Florida, highlighting the team’s depth.
Despite missing Sam Bennett due to illness, the Panthers benefitted from the return of captain Aleksander Barkov, who had missed two games. Barkov’s chemistry with linemates Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe created relentless offensive pressure.
Minnesota’s lone bright spot came from Marco Rossi, who scored his 12th goal of the season. Rossi has thrived since moving to the top line alongside Kirill Kaprizov, tallying five goals in nine games.
However, the Wild have struggled to maintain consistency amid a wave of injuries. Joel Eriksson Ek has now missed seven consecutive games with a lower-body injury, while defenseman Jake Middleton and goaltender Filip Gustavsson were also sidelined.
Veteran netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, making his 1,004th career start, surpassed Patrick Roy for third-most starts by a goaltender in NHL history. Fleury stopped 27 shots but couldn’t stem the tide against Florida’s relentless attack.
The Panthers led the league in hits coming into the game and maintained their physical edge, out-hitting the Wild 37-21. Florida capitalized on their momentum after a disallowed goal, with Tkachuk and his linemates dictating the game’s pace. Tkachuk’s first goal was a turning point, coming after the replay negated Florida’s earlier tally. His second goal further demoralized the Wild.
The Panthers (20-11-2) will look to build on their momentum as they host the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Meanwhile, the Wild (20-8-4) will try to regroup when they host the Utah Grizzlies the same night.
With Tkachuk firing on all cylinders and Florida getting healthier, the Panthers are solidifying their position as a top contender in the Eastern Conference. Minnesota, on the other hand, must navigate its injury woes to stay competitive in the West.
