Newcomer Brady Tkachuk and Cole Reinhardt each found the back of the net twice in the Florida Panthers impressive 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena in the preseason opener for both teams.
Tkachuk’s first period power-play goal from the high slot, set up by big brother Matthew and Aleksander Barkov, at 12:02 of the first period tied the tilt after Carolina’s Dominik Badinka opened the scoring at the 6:04 mark.
Tkachuk sent Barkov away for a breakaway goal with crafty backhand pass 2:30 into the second and completed the scoring with an unassisted empty-netter with 2:15 left on the clock.
Reinhardt notched Florida’s third and fourth goals of the night. His first tally was assisted by Jack Devine and Radko Gudas and his game-winning goal came at 12:10 of the second when he deflected Niko Mikkola’s shot past Pyotr Kochetkov after an offensive zone faceoff.
Mikkola got the Panthers’ fifth goal, assists to Sandis Vilmanis and Eetu Luostarinen, and he also had the secondary helper on Barkov’s goal.
Jacob Markstrom went the distance between the plumbing and ended up stopping 21 shots.
Justin Robidas scored a power-play goal and drew the primary assist on Bradly Nadeau’s marker that tied the game at three for 1:25 until Reinhardt put the Panthers back on top.
It was a very solid start to the preseason for the Cats, who took care of Carolina’s younger lineup, outshooting them by a 34-24 count. Three points each for Brady Tkachuk, who was named the game’s First Star, and Mikkola; a goal and assist for the returning Barkov; and Reinhardt continues to shoot lights out.
The two teams will go at it again Tuesday night in Raleigh.
Sunday results
- New Jesey 2, New York Islanders 1
- Anaheim 6, San Jose 2
- Tampa Bay 2, Nashville 1
- Boston 3, Washington 2
- Colorado 4, Utah 1
- Seattle 4, Calgary 2
Tonight’s games
- Buffalo at Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
- Detroit at Columbus 7 p.m.
- New York Rangers at New Jersey 7 p.m.
- Philadelphia at Washington 7 p.m.
- Ottawa at Montreal 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
- Colorado at Winnipeg 8 p.m.
- Minnesota at Chicago 8 p.m.
- St. Louis at Dallas 8 p.m.