Aleksander Barkov’s first multi-goal game of the season leads Panthers past Lightning
Aleksander Barkov logged his first multi-goal game of the season as the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Monday at Amerant Bank Arena.
Florida improves to 38-21-3 and is on a four-game winning streak. Tampa Bay falls to 35-21-4 and saw its eight-game win streak snapped.
Barkov scored both of his goals in the second period to break a scoreless tie.
On his first goal, which came 9:02 into the period, Barkov intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and spun his way past Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point before firing a shot from just beyond the left circle that got past Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
His second goal came six seconds into a Panthers power play with a snap shot from the high slot on a feed from rookie Mackie Samoskevich. It was just Florida’s second power-play goal in five games since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off — a stretch during which they have played without star winger Matthew Tkachuk.
Barkov now has 16 goals and 56 points on the season.
Sergei Bobrovsky followed his 23-save shutout against the Calgary Flames on Saturday by stopping 28 of 29 shots by the Lightning. This included the first 19 shots he faced before Tampa Bay broke up the shutout bid on a Point goal 2:07 into the third period.
Bobrovsky stopped 12 shots on the penalty kill as Florida held Tampa Bay scoreless on seven power-play opportunities and a save on a shorthanded breakaway late in the third period.
Beyond the in-state rivalry, Monday’s game between the Panthers and Lightning was also a game between two of the hottest teams in the league who are jockeying for positioning atop the Atlantic Division.
The Lightning entered the game with points in each of their past 10 games. The Panthers entered as winners of eight of their past ten.
The Panthers continue their five-game homestand when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m., Scripps). The homestand wraps up Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m., Scripps).
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