Islanders Pass By Panthers

     The New York Islanders moved by the Florida Panthers 5-2 at UBS Arena on Saturday. The Panthers began a short two-game road trip in the New York metropolitan area. The Cats will face the New York Rangers tomorrow. 

     The Panthers are 15 points behind for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot with 10 contests to go. The Islanders entered the game with the second wild-card position. 

     Florida(35-34-3) raced out to a 1-0 lead at the 8:06 mark of the first period. Seth Jones poke-checked the puck from Emil Heineman and sent a long lead pass out of his zone. Matthew Tkachuk went in alone on a breakaway from the Islanders blue line. He went to the backhand at the top of crease and lifted the puck past Ilya Sorokin for his 11th goal of the year. 

     The Panthers expanded the lead to 2-0 with 5:57 remaining in the first. Carter Verhaeghe flipped out a pass from the red line. Tkachuk got to the puck in the slot area and then placed a forehand shot between his own legs from the low slot for his second tally of the game and 12th goal in 2025-26. 

     The second period belonged to New York(42-25-3) and they compiled five goals in the frame. The Isles got on the scoreboard at 5:28 and closed it to 2-1. Adam Pelech made a backhand square pass at the center-ice circle. Matt Gatcomb charged down the middle of the ice and  collected his second goal this year on a wrist shot from the top right circle by Daniil Tarasov. 

     The Islanders tied it up 2-2 at the 7:51 mark of the second. Matthew Schaefer banked a lead pass from his own zone and Calum Ritchie centered it at the Panthers red line. Brayden Schenn then snapped a shot from the high slot for his 15th goal of the campaign and his third goal in an Islanders jersey. 

     The Isles took their first lead 3-2 on the power play with 5:08 to go in the period. Simon Holmstrom scored his 19th goal of the season on a snap shot from the top of the zone. 

     New York added two more goals down the stretch of the second period. Anders Lee angled a pass from the left corner. Heineman placed in a one-time shot from the top right circle with 3:00 left for his 21th goal of the season. Casey Cizikas got his ninth goal this season with 2:03 remaining to give New York a 5-2 advantage on a forehand shot from the top of the crease. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra skater with 5:15 left in the third period.