Florida Panthers back at top of NHL standings after overtime win over Carolina Hurricanes
.JPG "Florida Panthers’ Anthony Duclair (10) celebrates after his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)")
It played out like so many other big plays this season.
A slick pass from Jonathan Huberdeau to Anthony Duclair right in front of the net. Duclair charging forward. Duclair shooting the puck past the opposing goaltender.
In this particular instance, Duclair’s goal was an overtime game-winner as the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 at PNC Arena on Saturday to secure a big and potentially statement-defining road win.
“Huby’s such a special player, one of the best playmakers in the league — the best I’ve ever played with,” Duclair said. “So any time I get the puck, I try to get it in his hands and get open because he’s coming right back. He makes unbelievable plays every night, and I just try to feed off that.”
The win jumps Florida (23-7-5) back into first place in the NHL standings, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning with 51 points but getting to that point in two fewer games.
The Hurricanes (24-7-2) are close behind in third place with 50 points.
“It was huge,” Duclair said. “Two of the best teams in the league. Huge confidence booster moving forward. We’re pretty happy with our efforts tonight and we want to keep it going next road trip.”
Carter Verhaeghe also scored twice for the Panthers and Huberdeau had a goal of his own in addition to the assist on Duclair’s game-winner as he continues to make his early case to be a contender for the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL’s most valuable player).
And the Panthers did it on the road against one of the fellow top teams in the league, which shouldn’t go unnoticed considering Florida’s recent history on the road.
The Panthers had lost nine of their last 10 games away from FLA Live Arena heading into Saturday, including Thursday’s shootout loss at the Dallas Stars on the front-end of this two-game road trip.
They had been striving to put together a complete game away from home ice for a while now.
Saturday was arguably one of their best.
“We played a strong game,” interim coach Andrew Brunette said. “Little lull here and there, but a really good road game. We’re trying to build. We haven’t been particularly bad, but I don’t thing we’ve brought our ‘A’ game a lot of nights on the road. I thought tonight for the most part, we did.”
But it didn’t necessarily come easy. Florida led by two goals in the opening minute of the second period, but Carolina came back to tie it with a one-timer from Brady Skjei late in the second period and a goal from Seth Jarvis 1:45 into the third period.
That was it for scoring in regulation, even though Florida out-shot Carolina 11-8 in the third period.
And then Duclair sealed the win 2:53 into overtime.
Double-digit scorers
With Verhaeghe scoring two goals on Saturday, the Panthers now have five players who have scored at least 10 goals so far this season.
Aleksander Barkov and Duclair lead the way with 14, followed by Huberdeau (13), Sam Bennett (11) and Verhaeghe.
Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart are close to the double-digit mark at nine goals each.
More history for the Panthers
Verhaeghe’s goal in the second frame marked the 16th consecutive regulation period in which the Panthers have scored. That’s a franchise record, eclipsing a 15-period run they had earlier this season, from Oct. 19-29.
Florida, however, was held scoreless in the third period to end the streak.
Next up
The Panthers will play three home games next week: Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, Friday against the Dallas Stars and Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This story was originally published January 8, 2022 at 9:53 PM.
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