In a decisive display of skill, Spencer Knight stopped 20 shots, leading the Florida Panthers to a commanding 6-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Florida Panthers, fresh off a 6-3 win against Carolina the previous day, completed their two-day sweep with a stunning performance in Sunrise, Florida. Spencer Knight was in top form, earning his fourth career shutout and his first since November of the previous year, coincidentally against the same team.
Mackie Samoskevich contributed significantly to this victory. With less than a second to spare in the second period, Samoskevich found the net, setting the stage for the Panthers’ third period dominance where they netted four additional goals. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues, and Adam Boqvist also added to the scoreboard.
The game marked a significant turnaround for the Panthers, who have now won three straight games following a challenging period of six losses in seven games. Their success is linked to Samoskevich’s performance, as the team boasts a perfect record of 5-0-0 when he scores.
Carolina, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm. Spencer Martin faced 28 shots and saved 23, in what was his fourth consecutive start as goalie for the Hurricanes. Despite their recent difficulties, the Hurricanes had previously been resilient after losses, holding a 4-0-1 record under such circumstances up to this match.
The Panthers capitalized on a critical moment in the third period by scoring two goals within 11 seconds, putting the game out of reach for the Hurricanes. This prompted the Hurricanes to replace Martin with Yaniv Perets, marking only his second career appearance in the NHL.
Aaron Ekblad ended a lengthy scoring drought, registering his first goal in over a thousand regular-season shifts. His contribution underscored the well-rounded nature of the Panthers’ performance, with each player stepping up in crucial moments.
The Panthers will look to maintain this momentum as they head to Pittsburgh for their next challenge, while the Hurricanes aim to regroup during their upcoming homestand against Seattle.
Source: WSVN
