Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom made his debut in Madison Square Garden as he and the Panthers nailed a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night. It was the first game between both squads this season. The Cats have won the first two games of their five-game road trip.
Florida(9-16-6) got the only goal in the first period as defenseman Brian Campbell scored against Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on the power play at 8:22 for his seventh goal this season.
The Panthers added another goal during in the second period at 4:28. Right wing Jack Skille skated through the left circle toward the low slot and took the initial shot. Left wing Scottie Upshall swept in the rebound from the top of the crease for a Florida 2-0 lead. It was the second goal this season for Upshall and his first goal since opening night at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
New York(15-13-2) closed the gap with 3:48 left in the third period when right wing Martin Gaborik walked on in through the slot and put a backhand shot by Markstrom.
The Cats were shorthanded in the final minute of the period as the Rangers pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4 situation. Gaborik had a slapshot from the left point blocked by the leg of right wing Tomas Kopecky. He ripped the puck down the ice into an empty net with 45.9 seconds remaining for his 12th goal this season.
Markstrom picked up his second straight win as he stopped 44 of 45 shots and brought his record up to 3-5-1. His idol and fellow Swede Lundqvist dropped to 13-12-1 as he made 21 saves. New York outshot Florida 45-23 which included an 18-8 advantage in the third period. The Cats went 1-for-2 while the Rangers went 0-for-3 on the power play. The Panthers will stay in the New York tri-state area and face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night and the New York Islanders on Sunday.
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