Thursday, May 5, 2022

Panthers Ride By Capitals In Game 2

     The Florida Panthers stopped the Washington Capitals 5-1 at FLA Live Arena in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The best-of seven series is now tied 1-1. The Panthers and Capitals will play Game 3 in Washington on Saturday afternoon. 
     National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman made an appearance at the arena. He spoke to the media during the first intermission about the status of the NHL and the impact of hockey in South Florida. It was the first press conference Bettman held in Sunrise since March 5, 2020, which was one week prior to the pandemic work stoppage. 
     Florida got up 1-0 with 3:40 remaining in the first period. Aaron Ekblad fired a slap shot from the right point that went off a defender in the slot area and by Vitek Vanecek. Aleksander Barkov was credited with an assist on the play. 
     The Panthers struck again with 2:02 left in the frame for a 2-0 lead. Anthony Duclair pushed the puck from the right wing. Jonathan Huberdeau carried it to the low right circle and made a cross-ice backhand pass. Barkov tapped it in from the left of the crease. 
     In the second period, Washington scored on the power play at the 2:44 mark. Alex Ovechkin connected a pass from the top of the zone. Nicklas Backstrom snapped a shot from the low right circle by Sergei Bobrovsky. 
     The Panthers answered back just 27 seconds later to make it 3-1. Mason Marchment released a wrist shot from the right circle. 
     Florida found the net two more times for a four-goal cushion. They increased it to 4-1 with 4:36 left in the second as Anton Lundell put the puck in from the crease area with a forehand shot. Carter Verhaeghe increased it to 5-1 with 2:21 to go on a high rising shot from the slot area. 

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