Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Flyers trip Panthers 2-1 in shootout.
Panthers lose Luongo to injury, game in shootout
The Panthers will most likely recall goalie Reto Berra from their AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass.
PHILADELPHIA — The Panthers acquired veteran forward Thomas Vanek to fortify the power play but also for his shootout skills. However, Vanek never got a turn. In a wide-open, hard-hitting affair more suited for a shooting gallery but with the feel of a playoff game in which the teams combined for 88 shots, the Flyers pulled out a 2-1 shootout victory Thursday in the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers got shootout goals from Jordan Weal and Jakub Voracek, but only Aleksander Barkov could solve Steve Mason, who stoned Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau.
While the Panthers did notch a point to temporarily tie the Maple Leafs for a playoff berth, it could be very costly as starting goalie Roberto Luongo sustained a lowerbody injury and didn’t return after the opening period.
Luongo stopped all 13 shots in a wideopen, scoreless first period, and he seemed to wince in pain while making a stop during Philadelphia’s third power play of the first period. Luongo, who had been struggling for the past month before a solid effort in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Hurricanes, started his second consecutive game for the first time since Feb. 11 and 15.
Luongo, 37, is coming off offseason hip surgery, and has been dealing with what is believed to be a groin issue since before the All-Star break, but has played through it. At home, the Panthers turn to Bobby Segin, an account executive in their ticket depart-
ment, as their emergency goalie. However, in the past they got the pads ready for either goalie coach Robb Tallas or center Derek MacKenzie.
The Panthers will most likely recall goalie Reto Berra from their AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass.
With both teams fighting for the same bone, an Eastern Conference wild-card berth, they added veteran forwards at the trade deadline Wednesday, with Florida acquiring Vanek from the Red Wings and Philadelphia snatching Valtteri Filppula from the Lightning to add offense.
The Panthers took a slim 1-0 lead into the third, but the Flyers got instant dividends from their trade deadline acquisition as Brayden Schenn threw it at the doorstep where Filppula smacked it in at 10:38. It was his eighth of the season.
A Panthers’ turnover handed Voracek outside the crease but he couldn’t get much on the shot as James Reimer made one of his 35 saves. Then Barkov roared down the slot for a bullet that Mason snared with 18.2 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Reimer came in cold and was tested immediately as the Flyers outshot the Panthers 10-0 in the first nine minutes of the second period. Then the Panthers took over the play outshooting Philadelphia 17-3 in the second half.
During Philadelphia’s fourth power play, Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad stole a pass from Claude Giroux in the neutral zone, skated around him and slapped it in at 11:34 for his ninth goal of the season. It was Ekblad’s first shorthanded tally and gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead after two.
Mason, the winning goalie in both wins over the Panthers earlier this season, is 10-3-2 versus Florida.
The intensity was so high that even 45-year-old Jaromir Jagr got a roughing penalty when defenseman Michael Del Zotto dared to throw a punch at the veteran.
Vanek ties to Panthers
Vanek, 33, skated with Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Marchessault on the third line. He has ties to Bjugstad, 24, as fellow alums of the University of Minnesota, albeit nearly a decade apart. Vanek won a national championship with the Minnesota Gophers in 2003 and was named MVP of the Frozen Four.
“I’ve watched him since I’m a little kid,” said Bjugstad, a native of Minneapolis. “I’ve watched him win a national championship in Minnesota. He was one of my favorite players when I was probably 11 when he won it, so it’s good to have him. We know what he’s got.
“He’s one of those players who knows how to handle the puck, throw those saucer passes. He’s got unbelievable hands. … With a guy like Marchy, who can put it away, so I think it’ll be a fun line to play with.”
Vanek traveled all day from Vancouver to Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon after learning he would be playing for his sixth organization.
“Bjugy and Marchessault are very good players, very skilled and very smart, so hopefully we can get chemistry early,” Vanek said. “That’s why we play the game, to get in the playoffs and get a chance for the big prize. This team is very close. I think it’s a good team and I’m excited to join them.”
Vanek played two seasons (2012-14) with Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk when both were with the Buffalo Sabres.
“I was sort of in awe of the talent and his whole game,” Pysyk said. “Nice guy in the room, good player on the ice obviously, so it’s good to have him here.”
Panthers coach Tom Rowe wasted no time putting Vanek on the second power-play unit.
“He’s an elite NHL passer, one of the best in the league,” Rowe said. “When I was with Carolina, I worked our penalty kill to shut him down first. He’s unbelievable. I don’t think there’s too many guys better than him, tipping and redirecting pucks from the slot in front of the net, so he’s real good presence for us there.”