Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad speaks after Florida's 7-2 win in San Jose on Jan. 25. The Florida Panthers sure do seem to enjoy playing the San Jose Sharks. Florida’s 7-2 victory at SAP Center on Saturday night was the Panthers 12th consecutive victory over the Sharks, a streak that goes all the way back to 2019. Despite the lop-sided score, San Jose actually came out hot and put the Cats on their heels in the game’s early stages. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] The veteran Panthers kept their cool and skated to an impressive win, one that allowed them to stay in a reasonably good spot heading into another back-to-back set. Let’s get to Saturday’s takeaways: RECOVERED FROM POOR START Based off how Florida looked during a good portion of the game’s first period, one may have expected a high-scoring shootout to be Saturday’s outcome. Their forecheck was off and the game had more of a rush feel than the Panthers would ever want, especially against a young team like San Jose. Fortunately for the Cats, they snapped into form in the latter stages of the opening frame and were able to carry that through to the end of the game. “We were able to change the game a little bit,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “They came out really strong, really fast, got on them, and they got a lead, and then thought around six minutes left in the first period, we got little more physicality in our game and on our fore check, and that helped us kind of slow them down a little bit.” IMPACT OF EKBLAD’S RETURN Top priding defenseman Aaron Ekblad’s return to Florida’s lineup after a seven-game absence brough a ripple effect that impact the team in many ways. Scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist was a good place to start. There is also the distribution of minutes on Florida’s blueline, which get much more regulated with both Ekblad and Gus Forsling able to play their usual workloads. Add into that how Florida is currently not only playing on the road, but in the middle of another back-to-back set and you’ll start to see how the value of Ekblad’s return touches so many different areas. “Our bench, appreciating that the minutes were right on our blue line,” Maurice said. “We were play a little stronger, I think, as the game went on, than we have maybe in a few of these other situations. It’s also critical for tomorrow night (against Vegas) that we don't have 25 minutes on a defenseman going into that game.” HAPPY FLIGHT HOME? Florida will wrap up their four-game road trip on Sunday in Las Vegas with a chance to head home with six of a possible eight points. Despite playing two back-to-back sets and having a two-day gap between them, the Panthers have managed their time wisely while away from home. We’ll see how well that translates against the Golden Knights, who will also be pushing hard for two points. Vegas enters their matchup with Florida having lost seven of their past nine games. “We’re in a position now to have a really good road trip and back-to-back,” said Maurice. “Everybody in our division and in the East is winning, so you’ve got to keep pace with those guys, and like I said, give ourselves a chance to have a big trip here.” LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers wrap up road trip with business trip to Vegas [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-wrap-up-road-trip-with-business-trip-to-vegas] Tkackuk, Panthers dominant in 7-2 victory over San Jose [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/tkackuk-panthers-dominant-in-7-2-victory-over-san-jose] Panthers road trip continues in San Jose against sinking Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-road-trip-continues-in-san-jose-against-sinking-sharks] The Hockey Show: Connor McDavid suspension, impressive Panthers youngsters, Rose takes over [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/the-hockey-show-connor-mcdavid-suspension-impressive-panthers-youngsters-rose-takes-over] Matthew Tkachuk will be sharp dressed man at 4 Nations thanks to Perry Ellis [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/players/matthew-tkachuk-will-be-sharp-dressed-man-at-4-nations-thanks-to-perry-ellis] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
