Panthers take down Capitals
Florida tops conferenceleading Washington with win.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— So much for losing momentum after the five-day All-Star break.
In case the hockey world wasn’t convinced how talented these Panthers are during the All-Star festivities where Roberto Luongo, Jaromir Jagr and Aaron Ekblad all shined, they got the whole enchilada in a convincing 5-2 victory Tuesday over the NHL-best Washington Capitals in a stunned Verizon Center for their fourth consecutive victory.
After all, Capitals fans had witnessed 10 straight victories (and12-1-2overall) over the Panthers in D.C. since a 3-0 Florida victory on Dec. 9, 2010. They also saw Washington’s franchise-tying 13-game home-point streak (12-0-1) come to an abrupt end.
In the only scheduled nationally televised Panthers’ game this season (NBC Sports Network), the viewers got another look at Florida’s young blossoming core of stars. Jonathan Hub er de au ,22, continued his torrid play with two goals and an assist, while Aleksander Barkov, 20, and Vincent Trocheck, 22, also lit the lamp.
“I practiced onmy shot during the break and had some opportunities,’’ said Huberdeau, who notched his first multiple-goal game since Jan. 8, 2015 against Vancouver. “We believe in ourselves and that’s what
we’re showing on the ice. Get the lead early and our goaltender does the job and that’s why we’re in first position.’’
Despite a contest between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, both coaches went with their backup goalies. The reason given was that both starters, Florida’s Roberto Luongo and Washington’s Braden Holtby, two Vezina Trophy front-runners, were drained from the All-Star weekend.
The Capitals outshot Florida 38-19, but Montoya, who has started all three games (2-0-1) of the completed season series against Washington, continued his resurgence by outplaying counterpart, Philipp Grubauer with 36 saves.
Not without a scare. Florida led 4-0 lead after two, but the injury-depleted Capitals, without superstar Alexander Ovechkin (one-game suspension), third-line center Marcus Johannson and defenseman Brooks Orpik, scored two goals in the first two minutes of the third to cut the deficit in half.
“The whole game you’re on your toes,’’ said Montoya (8-2-1), who sported the hero Spacey hoodie. “These teams aren’t going to quit. This is the heart of the season. Hats off to the guys.…[The Caps] look at it and see me out there and think they’re catching a break that they don’t have to see [Luongo].’’
The Panthers toughened up and Panthers coach Gerard Gallant inserted Quinton Howden on the top line for defensive reasons, plus Jagr sustained a minor lower-back injury. It was Howden, who sealed the deal with an empty-netter with1:53 left.
“I’m fine,’’ Jagr told the Sun Sentinel.
Following their seasonlong formula for success, the Panthers scored twice in the penalty-filled first period while stifling two separate two-man advantages of Washington’s topranked power play. They’re 25-3-3 when scoring first, 18-2-1 with a lead after one and 21-0-1 when scoring three or more goals.
During the streak the Panthers have outscored the reigning Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, Lightning, Maple Leafs and Capitals 19-5.
“We’re putting pucks to the net with guys in front and that’s why we’re scoring and winning,’’ Barkov said.“We can beat any team in this league and we can dominate any team.’’
Just 1:26 after the Panthers killed off a two-man disadvantage for 34 seconds, the top-line trio struck for a1-0 lead at10:43. Barkov led a rush up ice and worked a give-and-go with Huberdeau. The puck ended up on Jagr’s stick where he found Huberdeau in the low slot.
The Panthers kept testing the hockey gods by giving the Capitals’ topranked power play another two-man advantage in the opening period for 1:25. However, the Panthers PK would stifle all eight of Washington’s power plays.
The whistle-happy officials evened out the calls by giving the Panthers a twoman edge for 59 seconds. They only needed 14 seconds to take a 2-0 lead into the second period. Huberdeau fed Nick Bjugstad in the crease where he no looked the puck to Barkov for a top-shelf special, his 14th.
The relentless Panthers took all of 21 seconds of the second period to go up 3-zip as Trocheck zipped down the right side before wristing in a softie through Grubauer his 15th. Once again the Panthers’ awakening power play clicked as Reilly Smith found Huberdeau, who unleashed a laser for No. 10. It was the Panthers’ fifth PPG in their last three games and gave them a comfy 4-0 lead after two.