Matthew Tkachuk, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Kevin Stenlund also found the back of the net for the Panthers, with Aleksander Barkov providing a stellar performance, garnering four assists in his 700th career NHL game.Evan Rodrigues and Gustav Forsling chipped in with two assists each, and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves to help seal the victory.
Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar, with a goal and an assist each, and goals from Jonathan Drouin and Josh Manson, kept the Avalanche competitive. Mikko Rantanen contributed with two assists, but goaltender Alexandar Georgiev had to relieve Ivan Prosvetov after the Panthers regained the lead.
The game was deadlocked at 4-4 in the third period when the Panthers capitalized on an extended 5-on-3 advantage, with Reinhart completing his hat trick and netting his 28th goal of the season at 5:59. Stenlund, Tkachuk, and Verhaeghe then added to the score, securing the Panthers’ victory.
The early moments of the game saw Verhaeghe opening the scoring just 1:10 in, followed by Reinhart’s two quick goals, establishing a 3-0 lead. However, the Avalanche mounted a comeback in the second period, with Makar and Manson narrowing the deficit to 3-2. Nichushkin’s power-play goal leveled the score at 3-3, but Ekman-Larsson’s goal helped the Panthers regain the lead.
Drouin tied the game once again in the third period, setting the stage for the Panthers’ dominant finish. The win solidifies Florida’s position as a formidable force in the NHL, extending their winning streak and showcasing their offensive prowess.
(With Reuters inputs)
