Mar 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates with right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) after scoring against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/20534ad6-6fa9-4011-9cea-c719a31736d9.jpeg] Mar 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates with right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) after scoring against the Utah Hockey Club during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Fans were treated to a fun Friday night at the hockey barn in Sunrise. Hosting the Utah Hockey Club for the first time, the Florida Panthers welcomed Brad Marchand to their lineup and pulled out a gutty 2-1 win in overtime. It took some time for the game to get going, with the two teams combining for only 11 shots on goal during the opening 20 minutes. An early second period power play for Florida would change that. Controlling the puck right off the face off in Utah’s zone, Florida worked the puck around before Sasha Barkov found Sam Bennett with a perfect back door feed. Bennett deposited the puck behind Karel Vejmelka to give the Cats a 1-0 lead just 2:28 into the second period. Florida’s lead held until the early stages of the third period, when Sean Durzi finished off a 2-on-1 while the teams were playing at 4-on-4. Some strong penalty killing by the Panthers would help push the affair past regulation for the second straight home game. The extra session was all Florida, but it took nearly the entire five minutes for the Cats to cash in. Brad Marchand had the puck on his stick behind Utah’s net, finding Bennett at the side of the goal crease. His second of the game would give Florida their seventh straight win on home ice. On to Montreal. QUICK THOUGHTS Bennett’s goal was his sixth over his past nine games. Barkov has five points over his past five games after picking up the primary assist on Bennett’s goal. Marchand’s primary assist on Bennett’s OT winner was his first as a member of the Panthers. Florida held Utah to only 14 shots on goal. The Cats went a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including one late in the third period where they held Utah to zero shots on goal. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA The Hockey Show: Ovechkin's classy move, Frozen Four and This Is SportsCenter spots with John Buccigross [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-ovechkins-classy-move-frozen-four-and-this-is-sportscenter-spots-with-john-buccigross] Panthers aim for 7th straight home win, host Utah Hockey Club for first time [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-aim-for-7th-straight-home-win-host-utah-hockey-club-for-first-time] Practice Notebook: Marchand trending toward Panthers debut, updates on Tkachuk, Kulikov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/practice-notebook-marchand-trending-toward-panthers-debut-updates-on-tkachuk-kulikov] Sergei Bobrovsky playing lights out for Florida Panthers as Stanley Cup Playoffs approach [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/sergei-bobrovsky-playing-lights-out-for-florida-panthers-as-stanley-cup-playoffs-approach] Brad Marchand could make Florida Panthers debut Friday against Utah [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/brad-marchand-could-make-florida-panthers-debut-friday-against-utah]
