Jets Surge By Panthers In Europe

     The Florida Panthers appeared in the NHL Global Series and lost to the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland on Thursday. It was the first of two games to be played there between both teams. It was the 30th National Hockey League regular season game ever held outside of North America.
     Winnipeg(8-4-1) moved out in front 1-0 with 1:26 left in the first period. After Jonathan Huberdeau turned the puck over in his own right defensive circle on a cross-ice pass. Kyle Connor dropped the puck to back to Dustin Byfuglien. His slapshot was saved Reimer and so was the follow-up shot by Bryan Little from the slot. Mathieu Perreault poked in the rebound from the crease for his second goal of the year.
     In the second period, Florida(2-5-3) tied it up at 4:18 on a 4-on-3 power play. Mike Hoffman sent a cross-ice pass from the right point and Aleksander Barkov fed a pass from the top left circle to Keith Yandle at the top of the zone. He blasted a one-time slapshot past Connor Hellebuyck.
     The Jets regained the lead on the power play with 4:46 to go. Blake Wheeler connected a pass from the low right circle to Patrik Laine at the top left circle and he scored on a snap shot. It was his first goal since October 18 and he stopped a five-game pointless streak.
     The Panthers once again evened it up 2-2 with 2:06 remaining. Nick Bjugstad carried the puck up the right wing and passed it back to Mike Matheson. His wrist shot from above the right circle was redirected by Evgenii Dadonov in the low slot for his fifth goal of the season. Dadonov was able to extend his point streak to seven games.
     The third period came and Winnipeg converted during a 5-on-3 power play at 3:28. Byfuglien prevented the puck to left the Panther zone at the blue line as he leaped up. He backhanded a soft pass to Wheeler on the right wing. Wheeler sent it to the top left circle where Laine powered home a slap shot.
     The Cats get an extra attacker on the ice in the final two minutes. It did not help as Laine picked up the hat trick with his third goal of the contest with 42.7 seconds left.