The Florida Panthers clawed their way to a victory against the Ottawa Senators with a final score of 3-2. But what really decided this game?
Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe each lit up the scoreboard with 2 points apiece, leading the Panthers to triumph on Saturday at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. This win was especially sweet for the Panthers, who had previously stumbled with losses in 2 consecutive games and 4 out of their last 5.
Evan Rodrigues also contributed a goal for the Panthers (with a record of 23-18-3). Aaron Ekblad added two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky stood strong in the net, making 17 saves, marking his first win since December 29th.
"Good game, really tight game," Bobrovsky commented after the match. "We played fast, a strong game in all zones. We were smart defensively and offensively. It was huge. Every game is big, especially against a divisional opponent. Big win, big points for us, and we’re excited to move on."
On the other side, the Ottawa Senators (with a record of 20-19-5) faced their fourth straight loss. Fabian Zetterlund and Drake Batherson managed to score for the Senators. Leevi Merilainen made 18 saves, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
Ottawa forward Claude Giroux noted, "Right now, we’re in a tough position and the only way to get out of this is by working and to stay together." He also added, "We did a lot of good things, but it’s a good League. To win in this League, you have to play better."
But here's where it gets controversial... Ottawa's early power play saw Zetterlund score just seconds after it ended, putting the Senators in the lead with a sharp-angled shot. Florida's coach, Paul Maurice, admitted, "The first goal? Sergei is not going to like that one." However, he praised Bobrovsky's ability to elevate his game after a tough start.
Rodrigues evened the score at 1-1 with a wrist shot during a power play. The Panthers then took the lead with a power-play goal by Verhaeghe. Forsling later added to the lead with a slap shot in the third period, making it 3-1.
Forsling emphasized the team's composure, stating, "We stayed calm, got the pucks out. I thought we did a good job... [Bobrovsky] made some huge saves. He keeps us in games, has been so good for us throughout the season especially today when we needed it the most. It’s nice to come with a lead and play with some composure at the end. Big win."
With Merilainen pulled for an extra attacker, Batherson narrowed the gap to 3-2 with just 1:42 remaining. The Senators, however, couldn't close the deal.
Ottawa's coach, Travis Green, observed, "Offensively, we had to fight for space; they had to fight for space. Came up on the short end of the stick. I thought we lacked a little bit of desperation." He acknowledged the Panthers' strong play, saying, "They played a good road game and we didn’t play terrible. We just didn’t quite get it done."
And this is the part most people miss... Florida's penalty kill was a significant factor, successfully shutting down Ottawa's five power-play opportunities, limiting the Senators to only four shots on goal. Maurice highlighted the importance of their penalty kill, saying, "Over the past three years, it’s probably the best part of our game. We live and die with it."
Did you know? The Panthers played without Brad Marchand due to an undisclosed injury. Sandis Vilmanis made his NHL debut, playing 11:48 on 14 shifts. Verhaeghe is close to tying Hall of Famer Pavel Bure for goals. Ekblad is also nearing a milestone of 400 career points.
What do you think? Do you agree that the penalty kill was the turning point? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
