The Florida Panthers got off to a hot start to begin the opening period, which was the exact opposite of yesterday’s game against the Sabres.
Off a fast break, Frank Vatrano raced down the width of the ice, driving hard to the net and burying his own rebound to give the Cats the lead first. Unfortunately, that lead wouldn’t last long as former Panther Jared McCann beat Chris Driedger short-side to level the game at one.
Despite conceding so quickly after initially scoring, the Panthers continued to push and found their second of the night through Brett Connolly – who wristed his sixteenth home from the slot.