Panthers Wrap-Up: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2 (SO)
Fleischmann, newcomer Wolski knot late third period goals to tie it, Weiss wins it in the shootout to propel Panthers back up the Eastern Conference standings.
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 Wojtek Wolski, obtained in a trade from the New York Rangers earlier Saturday, scored the tying goal for Florida with 1:47 left in the third period after Tomas Fleischmann cut the Panthers' deficit to 2-1 at 13:58. FULL RECAP |
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 - Forward Wojtek Wolski following his first game with the Panthers after being acquired in a trade from the Rangers. |
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 2. Sticking With It Ties The Game: It didn't look great entering the third period as Florida trailed by two goals after Jeff Skinner set up Jussi Jokinen with 2:28 left in the second period. The Panthers kept at it though and finally found a way to beat Peters. There Kris Versteeg found Tomas Fleischmann across the ice and through a Hurricanes defenseman and the winger one-timed the pass past Peters for his 20th of the year. Florida found themselves down a goal with 6:02 left to play in the game. Then it was a couple of newcomers causing havoc in tying the game with just 1:47 left on the clock. Shawn Matthias made a nice move in the neutral zone and found Wojtek Wolski. Acquired in a trade earlier in the day from the NY Rangers, Wolski looked like he was going to pass it with a Hurricane draped all over him but instead fired a no-look shot five-hole on Peters, beating the netminder. Jerred Smithson, acquired Friday from Nashville, looked to have caused a great screen as he crashed the net looking for a rebound. Another 1:47 came off the clock and the Panthers, full of energy all night, were rewarded with at least one point on the night. 3. Entertaining Game Ends With Shootout Win: The game, highlighted by great goals and huge saves by both Theodore (see Theodore's two stops on Eric Staal with the Panthers on a power play) and Peters was meant to go post-regulation. Both teams have struggled in overtime/shootouts this season with both teams suffering 12 post-regulation losses (tied for most in the league) entering the game. It didn't look it as they each had great chances in overtime. That was especially the case when Staal and Erik Gudbranson went to the box with a little over two minutes to play. Playing three-on-three hockey, the teams exchanged shots but to no avail. It would be decided in the shootout. Mikael Samuelsson scored for Florida on their first shot while Skinner answered for Carolina on their second shot. After Jiri Tlusty couldn't score, alternate captain Stephen Weiss deked and went to the backhand before slipping the puck five-hole for the Cats fourth shootout victory of the season. With the Jets shootout loss earlier in the day, the victory vaulted the Panthers back into first place in the Division (3rd overall in the East). |
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 Memorable twitter posts from the game.
@davidlasseter: Feels so great to see a big win when things were looking bleak! Let's get two more tomorrow! #FlaPanthers |
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 Memorable fan posts from the game.
Oti Gimenez: Happy to eat my words. This has to be a huge confidence builder going into tomorrows game and then the road trip. Marco Astro: Huge and much needed win... finally some smiles in their faces... hope we can continue tomorrow. Believe red all the way from germany... Joanne Ruimy: What a crazy game it was nice to see all the players with huge smiles!!!! Sebastian Lovas: BIG comeback! Smithson and Wolski, played GREAT tonight. Really happy that DT brought them in! Nice to see Weiss getting that goal, he needs to end that slump asap. Kevin Ross: WE WON A SHOOTOUT?!? WE WONNN A SHOOOOTOUT!!!! |
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 1. It didn't take long for newcomer Wojtek Wolski to score his first goal as a Panther. Less than a game to be exact. Wolski, who also scored his first of the season, tied the game with 1:47 left to play. Wolski finished with 15:43 of ice time and four shots on net. |
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44 Shots, 42 Saves, .955 SV%
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Panthers
Hurricanes
Author: Glenn Odebralski | FloridaPanthers.com
