The Florida Panthers defeated the San Jose Sharks 7-2 on Saturday night, with defenseman Aaron Ekblad scoring a goal and dishing out an assist in his comeback from an upper-body injury.
In addition to Nate Schmidt, Sam Bennett, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist, and Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk scored one goal and provided two assists. 22 saves were made by Sergei Bobrovsky.
Florida transformed a 3-2 lead into a blowout after outscoring San Jose 4-0 in the second session.
The Sharks scored goals through Cody Ceci and Will Smith. They have lost 10 of 11 games and six in a row.
Early in the second half, Greer gave the Panthers a 4-2 lead while pursuing goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who was replaced by Yaroslav Askarov. The Panthers led 7-2 going into the third after goals by Tkachuk, Boqvist, and Reinhart.
After missing eight of the previous nine games, Ekblad returned to Florida’s top defense pairing, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead after the first period.
Takeaways
Panthers: After only managing one goal in a defeat to the Kings on Wednesday night, the Panthers answered with seven goals, tying a season record.
Sharks: In the last three games, they have let up at least five goals. This season, they have allowed the most goals in the NHL.
Key moment
Three minutes into the second period, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky withdrew Georgiev, but the Panthers scored three goals the remainder of the period, quickly ending any chance that a goaltender change would help the team overcome a 4-2 deficit.
Key stat
This was the third four-goal stretch for the Panthers this season.
Up next
On Sunday night, the Panthers will be in Vegas. On Monday night, the Sharks will host Pittsburgh.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.