The game was scoreless until halfway through the second period, when Jussi Jokinen (10) did his damage, with assists from Vincent Trocheck and Brian Campbell. Aleksander Barkov (16) netted a shorty midway through the third, on a nifty breakaway and a sharp backhander which fooled Jeff Zatkoff for a 2-0 Panthers lead. Jussi Jokinen got a well-earned assist on the play.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, the next three goals were all courtesy of the bad guys.
Kris Letang (8) scored with five minutes remaining, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Patrick Hornqvist, then Crosby (22) evened the score with just over a minute remaining in regulation to force the extra period. He was helped out by Letang and Trevor Daley.
Letang stuck a fork in the Cats at the 1:27 mark of overtime, sealing it by beating Roberto Luongo, who stopped 32 shots in the loss and had his personal nine-game home winning streak snapped. Crosby and Daley assisted on the game-winner. Zatkoff earned the win by stopping 42 Florida shots on goal.
Rank tonight’s Panther Heroes and Zeroes.
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Next up for the Panthers await the Red Wings, this time in Detroit, 7:30, Monday night. Winging It In Motown is SB Nation’s hub for the original six stalwart. Explore SB Nation’s Hockey network for the other five, and the 24 “leftovers.”