Panthers pound Lightning as Blue Jackets win in SO
FLORIDA: Jonathan Huberdeau scored a goal and contributed four assists as the Florida Panthers crushed the shorthanded Tampa Bay Lightning 9-3 on Thursday night in Sunrise, Florida.
Taking advantage of a Lightning team missing their top two goalies due to Covid-19 protocol, the Panthers produced their highest-ever goal total against the Lightning. The previous high came in an 8-2 win on Feb 28, 2006. It was also one goal short of the Florida record against any team.
Anthony Duclair had two goals and an assist for the Panthers, who got a goal and an assist each from Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, Frank Vatrano and Aleksander Barkov. Maxim Mamin and Aaron Ekblad added a goal apiece.
The Panthers took advantage of third-string Lightning goalie Maxime Lagace, who made 21 saves and allowed six goals before being lifted following the second period. Fourth-stringer Hugo Alnefelt made seven saves and allowed three goals in the third.
Gustav Nyquist scored the winner in the fifth round of the shoot-out to give Columbus a 4-3 win over visiting Nashville.
Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist and Patrik Laine and Alexandre Texier also scored for the Blue Jackets, who were playing their first game since Dec 16. Columbus’ Elvis Merzlikins finished with 31 saves.
Ryan Johansen, Nick Cousins and Michael McCarron scored goals while Matt Duchene added a pair of assists for the Predators. David Rittich made 26 saves.
Mathew Barzal, playing his first game following a stint in Covid-19 protocol, scored New York’s first goal and added two assists in a 4-1 win over Buffalo in Elmont, New York.
Kieffer Bellows scored the gamewinning goal and contributed an assist. Anders Lee and Noah Dobson also scored for the Islanders, who played for the first time since Dec 19.
Kyle Okposo, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Islanders, scored for the Sabres, who lost both ends of a back-to-back set. Sabres goalie Malcolm Subban recorded 28 saves.