Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad raise Panthers previous Hurricanes in OT

The Florida Panthers simply stored getting higher as the sport went on after an extended layoff. That was sufficient to erase a late deficit then pounce for an extra time winner in a matchup of two of the Jap Convention’s finest groups.

Sam Reinhart tied it within the remaining minute of regulation, then Aaron Ekblad acquired free for a breakway objective simply 16 seconds into OT to offer the Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday evening, an abrupt turnaround to a recreation Florida in any other case managed regardless of being behind late.

Florida by no means led in regulation however outshot the Hurricanes 22-8 over the ultimate two intervals in a matchup of the convention’s prime two groups when it comes to factors proportion, in addition to marking the Panthers’ first recreation in additional than two weeks as a result of All-Star break.

“For us coming off that break, it was grinding recreation,” interim Panthers coach Andrew Brunette stated. “And we have been very able to grind, able to do the little issues, to discover a method.

“We didn’t have our greatest recreation with the puck, however I assumed we did numerous the appropriate issues. We defended in packs. We stored them a bit of bit to the skin. And we had power, and I assumed we acquired higher as the sport went on — particularly within the third interval.”

Aleksander Barkov additionally scored a highlight-reel objective within the second interval for Florida, which had notched a franchise-record 12 wins in January together with scoring 74 objectives for the very best single-month output by any NHL staff in additional than 26 years.

Issues didn’t come almost as simply in a chippy and bodily matchup, however the Panthers beat Carolina’s Frederik Andersen once they needed to.

Reinhart struck first by chasing down a unfastened puck alongside the left facet and zipping the puck previous Andersen as he tried to recuperate to the submit at 19:11 of the third after the Panthers had pulled Sergei Bobrovsky for the additional attacker.

Ekblad’s objective got here out of the blue, with NHL assists chief Jonathan Huberdeau zipping an ideal stretch go from deep in Florida’s personal finish to search out Ekblad close to middle ice for the profitable likelihood.

“I went in on the breakaway and I really have completely no thought what to do on breakaways,” the defenseman stated. “I simply tried to decelerate a bit of bit and make a transfer. I believe it’s simply sort of trickled in.”

Teuvo Teravainen and Tony DeAngelo every scored objectives for the Hurricanes, who had misplaced three of 4 — all on the highway — since coming back from a shorter layoff. Andersen completed with 28 saves, although the Hurricanes’ incapacity to transform on a 2-minute 5-on-3 alternative within the first interval loomed bigger as pictures grew to become more durable to come back by.

“The higher staff gained tonight,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour stated. “We weren’t the higher staff. So yeah, it’s disappointing. we must always’ve gained as a result of we’re up (2-1 late in regulation). However actually within the larger image, that’s not how I’m taking a look at it.”

JAW-DROPPERS

Barkov and defenseman Lucas Carlsson every had unimaginable second-period performs that proved essential.

First there was Carlsson sliding in from the left facet behind Bobrovsky to deflect Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s seemingly simple rebound putaway with the shaft of his stick and maintain the deficit at 1-0.

As for Barkov, he skated in for a 1-on-1 matchup with Brady Skjei, then flipped the puck behind his again to his proper facet to his backhand facet to beat Andersen at 13:09 with what Brind’Amour referred to as a “world-class objective.”

“He by no means ceases to amaze,” Brunette stated. “Such an underrated, proficient participant. It was sort of enjoyable it was on nationwide TV. Hopefully the world acquired to see what he brings to us each evening and perhaps shine a light-weight on how expert he’s and the way exhausting he competes.”

TESTY

Officers needed to separate the groups in a number of first-period scrums in a recreation that had a playoff taste, twice with these exchanges involving hits to or delivered by Carolina ahead Andrei Svechnikov.

There was additionally Florida’s Mason Marchment laying out former Panthers participant Vincent Trocheck with a jarring hit that despatched Trocheck’s helmet flying. Trocheck stored enjoying, solely to be despatched to the field for enjoying with out his helmet.

UP NEXT

Panthers: At Minnesota on Friday evening.

Hurricanes: Host Nashville on Friday evening.