Panthers Destroy Jets

     The Florida Panthers flew by the Winnipeg Jets 5-0 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night. The Jets were off to one of the best starts in National Hockey League history after 16 games. The Panthers avoided a three-game losing streak and completed a five-game homestand. 

     It will be a short time before both clubs meet again. They will face each other in Winnipeg on Tuesday night. 

     Florida(12-5-1) took a 1-0 lead with 5:01 remaining in the first period. A.J. Greer connected a cross-ice pass from the right point. Gustav Forsling shot the puck from the upper left circle and Mackie Samoskevich redirected it from the top of the crease past Connor Hellybuyck for his third career goal. 

     It became 2-0 for the Panthers at the 2:07 mark of the second period. Sam Reinhart touched the puck behind his own cage. Sam Bennett carried the puck through the middle of the ice and backhanded a shot from the inner right circle which was saved. Nate Schmidt followed with a forehand shot from the left circle for his third tally in a Panthers uniform. 

     The Cats made it 3-0 with 7:39 to go in the second. Aleksander Barkov snapped a shot from the slot area and Evan Rodrigues scored his fifth goal of the year with a snap shot from the left of the crease. Aaron Ekblad was credited with a secondary assist on the play. 

     Winnipeg(15-3-0) then trailed by four goals on a shorthanded goal with 5:24 left in the period. Reinhart shot the puck from the inner right circle off the left post. Barkov followed with a backhand shot from the crease area for his third goal of the campaign. 

     In the third period, Florida expanded their lead to 5-0 in a 4-on-4 situation at 3:23. Reinhart zipped a pass from the right corner and Barkov sent a diagonal pass from above the right circle. Dmitry Kulikov tapped the puck into the net from low slot for his third tally of the year.