Florida Panthers Triumph in Overtime
The Florida Panthers continued their impressive performance on the road with a thrilling 4-3 overtime triumph against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night in St. Paul, Minnesota. Brad Marchand was the standout player, netting twice, with his second goal sealing the game just three minutes into the overtime period.
Key Contributions
Sam Reinhart contributed significantly, scoring a goal and providing an assist, while Sam Bennett also found the back of the net, enhancing Florida’s record to 5 wins in their last 7 matches. Reinhart’s goal marked an important milestone as he reached the 25-goal mark for the sixth consecutive season and the seventh time overall in his career.
Goalkeeping Milestone
In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves, recording his 207th victory away from home, moving him into third place on the NHL’s all-time list for road wins, trailing only legends Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury. Bobrovsky’s performance was notable as he started the day tied with Ed Belfour for this significant achievement.
Wild’s Performance
Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy both shone for the Wild, each adding a goal and an assist. Joel Eriksson Ek also scored, while goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 30 stops, but suffered a setback, moving to a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 4 overtime losses in his last 13 games.
Game Highlights
It was Boldy who scored first for the Wild with a short-handed goal late in the third period, giving Minnesota a temporary 3-2 lead. However, Bennett quickly equalized for the Panthers on the same power play, just over a minute later. Notably, Florida has yet to lose in their 18 games that are decided by a single goal this season, with a remarkable record of 15 wins and 3 overtime losses.
Player Streaks and Milestones
Kaprizov’s performance extended his points streak to five games, during which he has accumulated three goals and nine assists. Additionally, Minnesota’s head coach John Hynes reached a career milestone, coaching his 800th NHL game, and becoming the fourth U.S.-born coach in league history to achieve this landmark.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Panthers will face off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, while the Wild will also host the Blackhawks on Tuesday.
