Panthers Pass Jets

    The Florida Panthers stopped a three-game losing streak as they picked up a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at BB&T Center on Tuesday night. The Cats did not got one penalty called them in this game which was the fifth time that it happened in franchise history. The last time it occurred was on October 11, 2010 at Vancouver against the Canucks.
    Florida(7-11-5) scored early at 5:07 of the first period. Left wing Tomas Fleischmann passed the puck from the left wing to center Marcel Goc in the high slot. He fed right wing Tomas Kopecky at the right-circle dot for a one-time slapshot and his ninth goal this season.
    Winnipeg(10-11-1) tied the game up at 1-1 just 1:42 into the second period. Left wing Andrew Ladd had the puck on the right point and found right wing Kyle Wellwood as he dashed into the high slot. He faked the shot then fired a wrist shot over Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom's glove.
    The Panthers got a one-man effort by center Shawn Matthias at 9:55 to regain the lead. He skated through the neutral zone, got around Jets defenseman Mark Stuart in the slot area and released a snapshot from the edge of the left circle for his fifth tally this season. Defenseman Colby Robak got his first NHL assist and point on the play.
    Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau was hooked from behind by defenseman Dustin Byfuglien in the low slot on a breakaway and was rewarded a penalty shot with 5:10 left in the period. Huberdeau would score on a wrist shot over the glove of Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec. He scored on a previous penalty shot against the Flyers in Philadelphia on February 22.
    The Cats extended their lead to 4-1 on left wing Mike Santorelli's first goal of the season at 3:43 of the third period. Defenseman Brian Campbell sent a cross-ice pass from the left point to the right circle. Santorelli skated around Pavelec right of the crease and snuck in a backhand shot into an open net.
    Florida went 0-for-2 on the man advantage while Winnipeg did not have a power-play opportunity in a game for the first time since they hosted the New York Islanders on December 20, 2011. Markstrom, who made his third appearance in net this season and his ninth career start for the Panthers, stopped 30 of 31 shots and improved to 1-2-0. Pavelec dropped to 8-11-1 as he made 22 saves. Florida right wing Jonathan Rheault made his NHL debut tonight. The Cats travel to Washington to face the Capitals on Thursday and then return to host the Jets in Sunrise on Friday.