Reinhart scores twice, Panthers earn comeback win over Pittsburgh
Jan 3, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) scores against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) during a shootout at Amerant Bank Arena. (Rich Storry-Imagn Images)The Florida Panthers didn’t need a win, but boy did they want one.
After dropping four of their past six, all on the road, Florida returned home and earned a thrilling 4-3 comeback win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout.
During the early stages of the game, it was Pittsburgh who had the majority of the offensive zone time and, as a result, outshot Florida 6-2 during the game’s first ten minutes.
A strong shift by Florida’s top line led to the game’s opening score, and it came off the stick of Sam Reinhart.
Carrying the puck off the boards and into the middle of the Penguins zone, Reinhart wired a wrist shot over the glove of Tristan Jarry to give the Cats a 1-0 lead at the 11:24 mark.
The lead did not last long as Bryan Rust scored on a gorgeous backhand with Pittsburgh on the power play just 3:01 after Florida’s goal.
Rust picked up another goal during the final minute of the period, deflecting a pass by Sidney Crosby over the blocker or Sergei Bobrovsky to send the Pens into the locker room with a 2-1 lead.
Evgeni Malkin extended Pittsburgh’s lead with their second power play goal of the game, putting the Panthers in a two-goal hole just under seven minutes into the second period.
Shortly after Malkin’s goal, Florida received a power play of their own.
It would be Reinhart taking advantage, dangling through a pair of Penguins before sliding the puck between Jarry’s pads at the 9:25 mark.
Another five hole goal would tie the game at three, and this time it came off the stick of Anton Lundell.
An excellent cross-ice pass by Eetu Luostarinen set up Lundell for a one-timer that split Jarry’s pads and tied the game with 5:31 to go.
Sixty minutes of regulation and a five-minute overtime would prove inadequate to determine a winner, so this game went to shootout.
Sasha Barkov scored in the shootout and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped every shot he faced to give Florida the bonus point.
On to Utah.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Reinhart’s goals were his 34th and 35th of the season, and his first multi-goal game since Jan. 13.
He’s collected four goals and 11 points over his past nine games.
Sasha Barkov has five goals and 10 points over his past 10 outings after picking up the primarty assist on Reinhart’s second goal.
Bobrovsky picked up his first assist of the season on Reinhart's PPG. It's Bob's third assist as a Panther and the 13th of his career.
Lundell’s goal was his first in seven games and second point of the month.
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