Gustav Forsling scored his third career OT goal to propel Florida to victory
Gustav Forsling scored his third career OT goal to propel Florida to victory
The Florida Panthers returned to Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night after getting shutout in Raleigh 1-0 to the Hurricanes where the game was not decided until the final 20 seconds.
Florida was playing the first of a three straight at home where welcomed Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, in an attempt to sweep the season series. They would have to do it without Matthew Tkachuk (day-to-day) and Kevin Stenlund (illness).
The Panthers would get on the scoresheet first, but after two consecutive power play goals from the Capitals, Florida would score late in the third and after regulation to start their two-game homestand with a 3-2 overtime win in front 19,887 in attendance.
Neither team would light the lamp in the first period. Florida registered four shots on goal while killing off two penalties in the opening frame.
The first goal of the game came on the Panthers’ first shot of the period. After the puck rang around the boards, Dmitry Kulikov grabbed the puck at the blue line and fired a slapshot that found Nick Cousins’ stick in the slot. Cousins redirection would put the Panther up 1-0 at 4:03 mark.
That was Cousins’ first goal since Nov. 6 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a span of 34 games.
The ice started to tilt in the Panthers favor during the second period, but it was Washington that would tie the game at one, and it came on the power play.
They used their quick passing on the man advantage with their second unit as Rasmus Sandin found Sonny Milano right on the blue paint to tap it in at 18:31 of the second.
Prior to the Capitals power play, Florida had not allowed a shot from Washington in nearly 10 minutes of game time.
Washington scored on the power play again at 10:11 of the third period. Capitals shot the puck deep into the Panthers zone, where the bounce off the end boards found Tom Wilson. Wilson drove to the net and scored backhand on Anthony Stolarz as he attempted the poke check and gave the Capitals the lead..
There were no shortage of special teams goals on Saturday night in South Florida, where the Panthers joined in on the scoring.
Florida tied the game at two on the man advantage where Carter Varhaeghe fired a wrister that redirected off Aleksander Barkov and past the glove of Lindgren at 16:30 of the third period.
Verhaeghe has a total of 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 16 career games against Washington, regular season and postseason.
This was the third straight game for Florida where it was tied in the final minute of regulation. A good test for a team who will have a lot of late game situations come postseason time.
After playing in six games past regulation in the first 47 games, the Panthers after Saturday have had four of their last eleven games go more than 60 minutes.
Florida picked up the two points thanks to Gustav Forsling. A multitude of opportunities for both teams in the extra frame, but the sixth shot of the period would end it at 3:41.
Forsling and Sam Bennett would not only help to break up a rush by Washington, they also led the three-on-one counterattack.
Bennett fed Forsling on a one-timer to end it in overtime to give Florida the two points and sweep the season series against the Capitals.
That was Forsling’s third career overtime winner, second as a Panther.
Panthers now welcome in the Buffalo Sabres to town on Tuesday on the second game of their three game homestand.
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