Panthers Make Postseason, Shocked By Islanders

     The Florida Panthers were stunned by the New York Islanders 3-2 on Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers, who clinched a playoff spot for the fifth straight season with a Detroit Red Wings loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, are now 1-5-1 in their last seven games. It was the 10th time that the Panthers made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in franchise history. 

     Florida(46-22-5) jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 8:13 mark of the first period. Vladimir Tarasenko chalked up his 21st of the campaign on a wrist shot. 

     New York(31-26-15) tied it 1-1 with 6:40 left in the first. Ryan Pulock placed in a wrist shot from his fifth goal this year.

     In the second period, the Panthers regained the lead 2-1 at 6:32 when Aleksander Barkov deflected the puck in for his 19th goal of the season. Barkov picked up his 700th NHL point on the play.  

     The Isles evened it up 2-2 at the 8:43 mark. Mathew Barzal was able to redirect the puck by Anthony Stolarz for his 23rd goal in 2023-24. 

     The Islanders moved in front for the first time of the contest and had a 3-2 advantage. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his 10th goal this season on a wrist shot with 9:18 remaining in the second.