Barkov, Panthers Squeak by Red Wings in Shootout Victory
The Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers are in close competition to either make the playoffs or get a better postseason seeding with fewer than three weeks remaining in the regular season. The Red Wings have dropped 11 of their past 14 games and are currently outside the postseason picture, following many months in which they looked certain to snap their seven-year playoff drought. In the meantime, the Panthers, who had dropped six of their previous seven games, came into Saturday two points behind the Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings, hoping to win the division twice in the previous three years. Despite an uninspiring first period, Aleksander Barkov would lead the Panthers to a comeback 3-2 shootout victory over the Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena.
Robby Fabbri gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 10:31 in the first period when he scored on a wrist-shot power play goal after receiving the puck from David Perron. After going scoreless for the first 40 minutes of play, Aleksander Barkov's rebound shot off of Aaron Ekblad gave the Panthers their first goal in the third period, bringing the score to 1-1 with eight minutes remaining. Barkov gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead three minutes later, at 15:04, when he slapped in a loose puck that had bounced off Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider. Dylan Larkin, who exited the game in the first period after taking a shot to his leg, would score on a one-timer that got past goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with four minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. With only 34 seconds into overtime, the Red Wings would attempt a 4-on-3 power play. However, they were unable to take advantage of the opportunity, and the exciting game ended in a shootout. Panthers' winger Sam Reinhart would score the only goal in the first round of the shootout, leading the team to a 3-2 triumph.
In the win, Panthers’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 20 saves on 22 attempts to secure his 32nd victory on the season (fourth-most). Following the game, Barkov discussed his team’s lackluster start and their ability to flip the switch and come away with their 47th win and now find themselves tied with the Bruins for first place in their division. Barkov stated, “We had some chances, but I don’t think that was our game. So, after the first period, in the second and third, we started playing a lot harder and that looked more like us. I think we found the way to win, and we just need to believe that that’s how we need to play.” The Panthers will travel to Toronto to square off against the Maple Leafs on Monday night as they aim to keep pace with the Bruins down the home stretch.
