Panthers Top Stars In NHL Global Series

     The Florida Panthers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-4 at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland on Friday. It was the first contest of two games in the 2024 NHL Global Series between both teams. They will face each other in the same city tomorrow. Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov finished with one goal and three assists for four points. 

     Florida(8-3-1) blasted out to a 1-0 advantage just 28 seconds into the first period. Barkov, who was playing in his hometown, passed the puck from the right corner. Aaron Ekblad sent a shot from the right point and if was redirected in by Evan Rodrigues from the inner right circle for his second goal this season. 

     The Panthers increased it 2-0 at the 7:11 mark of the first. Rodrigues charged into the Stars zone on the right side and made a square pass to the middle where San Reinhart tapped the puck back. Barkov snapped a shot from the high slot by Jake Oettinger for his second goal of the campaign. 

     Dallas(7-3-0) answered back with 9:15 remining in the opening period and cut it to 2-1. Tyler Seguin took a shot from the end wall and it bounced off Sergei Bobrovsky's right leg into the cage for his fifth tally this year. 

    The Cats expanded it to a two-goal margin 3-1 on the power play with 4:08 to go in the first. Anton Lundell tipped in a shot for his sixth goal this season on assists from Ekblad and Sam Bennett. 

     In the second period, the Stars scored to pull within 3-2 at the 1:31 mark. Esa Lindell got his first goal of the season on a snap shot. 

     Reinhart helped the Panthers go up 4-2 at 6:07 on a shorthanded goal for his eighth tally. Barkov and Ekblad were able to pick up assists on the play. 

     Florida pulled away with two goals early in the third period and led 6-2. Mackie Samoskevich scored his second career goal at 2:31 and then Reinhart found the net for the second time in the contest at the 10:08 mark.