Sebastian Aho scored with 19 seconds left in regulation to send the Carolina Hurricanes to 1-0 victory over the Florida Panthers in a taut, playoff style affair from Raleigh.
With overtime looming, Aho collected a loose puck after Niko Mikkola blocked an attempt off a rush from Andrei Svechnikov and turned and fired home from the edge of the right circle to end Florida’s six-game winning streak and 11-game run of success on the road. Jesper Fast was credited with the secondary assist on the goal.
The Panthers launched a total of 44 shots at goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov and he stopped them all, including seven during a key four-minute, third period stint of power play time that followed Jordan Staal high-sticking of Nick Cousins.
Sergei Bobrovksy stopped 28 of 29 shots in defeat. The loss ended his seven-game winning streak. It was the eighth game in a row in which Bobrovksy allowed two goals or less.
In addition to dropping the game, the Cats lost the services of Matthew Tkachuk and Gustav Forsling, who did not play after the first period. Tkachuk suffered an upper-body injury of some sort. Not sure what happened to Forsling. Both are said to be day-to-day, but we’ll see as Paul Maurice isn’t the most accurate when it comes to talking injuries.
Lots of shots and no goals is always a frustrating way to go down, but the Panthers played well. They just couldn’t find a way to get one past Kochetkov, except for Eetu Luostarinen’s finish which was wiped off the board for offsides. It’s been awhile since they’ve been goalied, so I guess they were due.
Really looking forward to the season series rubber match between these two teams, which will take place on March 14 at PNC Arena.
The Panthers will open a three-game homestand on Saturday night against the Washington Capitals before they host division rivals Buffalo and Montreal to close out the month.
Squalls & Shutters
- Although they failed to provide goal support, the Panthers held the opposition to two or less goals for the 12th straight game and killed off Carolina’s only power play chance.
- First Star Pyotr Kochectkov picked up his 15th win and third shutout of the season. Kochetkov stopped 16 shots in both the first and third period. You’ve done a man’s job, sir!
- Brandon Montour logged a game-high 28:45 TOI and finished with three shots, two blocks and four hits before roughing up Brett Pesce during a scrum at the end of the game.
- Sebastian Aho’s goal was his 21st of the season and Andrei Svechnikov’s primary helper was his 21st assist on the campaign. See, you got lucky Hurricanes!
- Sam Reinhart registered a game-high seven shots, but he has now gone five-straight games without a goal. Reinhart has cooled down a bit since returning from the All-Star Game.