After hosting All-Star Game weekend, the Florida Panthers got down to business. Monday at FLA Live Arena, they outscored their biggest rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-1.
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After going down in Florida’s first two battles of the season, Paul Maurice’s men made the necessary adjustments to dominate the ‘Bolts’.
Led by an in-form Matthew Tkachuk, the hosts machine-gunned Andrei Vasilevskiy’s cage. The Russian keeper made 42 parries ー his third-highest tally of the campaign ー, but flinched seven times.
Days after being named All-Star Game MVP, the eldest of the Tkachuk brothers had a two-goal, three-assist game. He’s been in at least one net in the past seven games, claiming 15 points in that streak.
In the third period, the American striker notably set the table for Carter Verhaeghe’s second success of the game, scored thanks to a throw on reception. The latter is only two goals away from reaching the 30 mark for the first time in his career.
Defender Brandon Montour also stood out in the game, his shot branching off Eetu Luostarinen to make it 4-1. He thus recorded a point in a 10th game in a row; a record for a back in the history of Florida training.
Sam Bennett and Eric Staal also hit the target for the Panthers, while Nikita Kucherov secured the thin response from the Lightning.
A victory for Horvat’s debut
In Philadelphia, the New York Islanders kicked off the Bo Horvat era with a 2-1 win over the Flyers.
A day after signing the bottom of an eight-year, $68 million pact, the former Vancouver Canucks captain had a rather low-key first game with the “Islands.” He was cleared from the scoresheet, but had four shots on goal and two hits, in addition to having blocked two strikes.
Mathew Barzal, who started the game on Horvat’s right wing, scored the winning goal midway through the middle period. The 25-year-old pivot won his battle at the back of the ice before skillfully redirecting a pass shot from Noah Dobson.
Kyle Palmieri had opened the scoring late in the first period, beating Carter Hart with a devastating wrist shot into the top corner.
Quebecer Nicolas Deslauriers was the only one to sparkle the red light for John Tortorella’s squad, when he deflected a shot from Tony DeAngelo.
Beauvillier and the frustrated Canucks
In Newark, Quebecer Anthony Beauvillier couldn’t taste victory in his first game with the Canucks, who lost 5-4 to the New Jersey Devils.
Beauvillier, acquired from the Islanders, spent 17 min 58 s. on the ice and showed a differential of -2 after starting the game on the Canucks’ first line.
While Andrei Kuzmenko, scorer of the game’s first goal, served a penalty for hanging Jesper Bratt in overtime, the Devils moved into enemy territory and quickly sealed the game. Jack Hughes spotted Bratt, who got his 20th goal of the season on a hard-hitting one-timer.
Just like Ondrej Palat, Hughes threaded the needle twice in the win. The American center has been all fire, all flame for the Devils since the New Year. In 14 duels in 2023, he has scored 15 goals and 26 points.
Luke Schenn, Curtis Lazar and Phillip Di Giuseppe scored in turn to tie the match 4-4.