Florida(45-20-4) is two points behind the Boston Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. New York(47-20-4) leads the Metropolitan Division by three points over the Carolina Hurricanes and are tied for first in the National Hockey League standings with 98 points alongside the Vancouver Canucks.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead at the 8:18 mark of the opening frame. Carter Verhaeghe sent a diagonal pass from the right wing to Josh Mahura on the left point. His slap shot was deflected in by Matthew Tkachuk at the top of the crease for his 23rd goal this season.
Florida moved out to a 2-0 lead just 21 seconds into the second period. Sam Reinhart slid a cross-ice pass from the low right circle and Eetu Luostarinen collected his 12th goal of the season as he steered the puck in from the left of the crease.
The Blueshirts closed it to 2-1 on the man advantage at 6:22. Adam Fox chalked up his 14th goal of the campaign with a snap shot from the high slot on assists from former Panther Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad.
New York evened it up 2-2 at the 8:23 mark. Fox fed the puck from the top of the zone and Trocheck passed it from the top left circle. Artemi Panarin blasted a one-time slap shot from the left circle for his 42nd goal in 2023-24.
In the third period, the Cats regained the lead 3-2 with 4:08 remaining as they kept New York bottled in their defensive zone. Tkachuk pushed the puck out from the low right circle to Brandon Montour on the right point. He connected a pass to Verhaeghe and he snapped a shot from the right circle for his 31st tally this season.
The Rangers answered back quickly with 3:25 left to tie it 3-3. It was a mad scramble in the crease and Panarin found the net from close range for his second goal of the game and 43rd goal this season.
The contest would be decided in a shootout. Zibanejad dragged a one-handed backhand shot on the Rangers first attempt. Reinhart snapped a shot on Florida's first shootout attempt for a tally. Panarin followed with a goal on a wrist shot during the Blueshirts second attempt.
Anton Lundell came up next for the Cats and could not release a shot on goal during their second attempt in the shootout. Trocheck followed for New York and was stopped on his attempt. Vladimir Tarasenko had the third shooting attempt for Florida and his snap shot was saved.
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