The Florida Panthers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Tuesday night after Sam Reinhart ended a three-game goal drought.
In their 10th consecutive game against the Ducks, the Panthers earned a point thanks to goals and assists from Carter Verhaeghe.
Goals were added by Uvis Balinskis, Sam Bennett, and Evan Rodrigues. Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 28 saves, while Mackie Samoskevich and Tomas Nosek each contributed two assists.
Anaheim’s goals came from Mason McTavish and Frank Vatrano. Lukas Dostal halted twenty-four shots.
At 8:58 of the first period, Reinhart scored his 28th goal of the season after receiving a pass from Matthew Tkachuk and backhanding past Dostal to make the score 1-1. Reinhart and William Nylander of Toronto were tied for second place in the league after the goal.
Takeaways
Panthers: Since joining Florida before the 2019–20 season, Bobrovsky has a 5-0 record, a 2.36 goals-against average, and a.922 save percentage versus the Ducks.
Ducks: After missing 22 games due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Trevor Zegras is back in the starting lineup. Late in the first period of the Dec. 4 game versus Vegas, Zegras sustained an injury. Zegras, who played left wing, was placed alongside Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson on the second line.
Key moment
With 1:11 left in the first period, Verhaeghe extended the Panthers’ lead to 3-1 by stealing the puck from Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba behind the Ducks’ goal and placing it in the top right corner of the net. Only Tampa Bay and Ottawa have scored more goals in the opening period than Florida, which has done so four times this season.
Key stat
Vatrano’s goal in the first period was assisted by Troy Terry. Terry overcame Adam Henrique and Scott Niedermayer to take 10th place on the team’s scoring history with his 265th point of the career.
Up next
On Wednesday, the Panthers play Los Angeles. On Thursday, the Ducks will host Pittsburgh.