The Florida Panthers opened a three-game homestand with a feisty 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks at FLA Live Arena, where the club is now a dominating 19-3 this season. Florida is now 6-0-1 in its last seven games.
Sam Reinhart, returning after missing three games in covid protocol, scored twice and added an assist, Aaron Ekblad produced a goal and two assists, and Aleksander Barkov notched Florida’s fifth goal on a shorthanded breakaway with a one minute to go in the second period. Barkov also drew an assist on Reinhart’s first goal, which came 1:06 after Ekblad started the scoring off 5:18 into the opening frame with a quarter-slapper from the point.