Huberdeau has 2 goals in win over Tampa Bay

SUNRISE — The summer was long for Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau. Robbed of the season’s first four months due to a preseason Achilles’ tendon injury and deprived of a playoff run due to a disappointing season from Florida, Huberdeau spent the summer looking for a way to amplify his impact on the Panthers franchise.

So months before he scored two goals in Florida’s 4-2 preseason home debut victory against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, Huberdeau went to work. He strengthened his left leg. He bulked up to 205 pounds. He aimed to be a bigger leader in the dressing room entering his sixth NHL season.

The early preseason returns are promising for Huberdeau.

In two games this preseason, Huberdeau has three goals and one assist as he adjusts to a new linemate on Florida’s top line. Huberdeau nearly had another assist on Tuesday night, but Aleksander Barkov’s shorthanded goal was disallowed because Florida had too many men on the ice.

Both of Huberdeau’s goals Tuesday night were assisted by Barkov. The first came just 42 seconds into the second period after Barkov won a faceoff in the offensive zone. Huberdeau swooped in off the wing, fished the puck out and swiveled his body to the net. He ripped a shot from below the right dot, beating Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy high.

Huberdeau struck again about five min-

Huberdeau