Panthers Rock Avalanche

     Sergei Bobrovsky collected his 41st career shutout as the Florida Panthers blanked the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers, who concluded a three-game homestand following the NHL All-Star Game break, closed to three points behind the Boston Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Avalanche are near the top of the Central Division.

     It was just the second time in franchise history that the Panthers swept the Avalanche in a season series. The only other time was back in 2016-17. 

     Panthers head coach Paul Maurice passed Ken Hitchcock for fifth all-time in NHL history with his 850th career win. Bobrovsky improved his record to 11-1-1 since December 23. 

     Florida(33-15-4) got a pair of power-play goals during the first period for a 2-0 lead. They made it 1-0 with 9:41 left in the first. Matthew Tkachuk passed the puck from the right goal line to Aleksander Barkov on the right wing. He sent a diagonal pass to the top of the crease and Carter Verhaeghe backhanded it in from the blue paint on second shot attempt for his 26th goal of the season. 

     It became a two-goal margin for the Cats with 3:04 remaining in the frame. Barkov connected a pass from behind the Avs cage to Tkachuk in the right circle. He centered it and Sam Reinhart smashed a one-time slap shot from the slot area by Alexandar Georgiev for his 39th goal this season. 

     In the second period, the Panthers struck again with 2:08 to go for a 3-0 lead. Dmitry Kulikov released a shot from the right point that was deflected and saved. Eetu Luostarinen nailed a slap shot from the low slot for his second straight game with a tally and 10th goal of the campaign. 

     Colorado(32-17-4) trailed 4-0 at the 9:20 mark of the third period. They turned over the puck deep in their own end as it was poked away by Verhaeghe. Barkov skated across the crease area and placed in a wrist shot from the left of the crease for his 12th goal in 2023-24.