ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Florida Panthers turned up the heat on Wednesday night, decisively defeating the Minnesota Wild 6-1 at the Xcel Energy Center. Trailing only briefly after Marco Rossi equalized for Minnesota, the Panthers showcased their offensive prowess, led by Matthew Tkachuk, who netted two goals. Aaron Ekblad also turned heads with one goal and two assists, solidifying his impact on the ice.
The game kicked off with Ekblad’s opening goal just 3:48 minutes in, as he fired a perfect shot from the blue line over the blocker of Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. "Good screen in front... found the post-in instead of the post-out for once," Ekblad said, expressing his delight over the opening strike.
Despite the early lead for Florida, Minnesota quickly responded. Rossi found the back of the net with just over three minutes left to play in the first period, scoring on the power play and capitalizing on what could have been another missed opportunity for the Wild after their initial attempt was called back for goalie interference.
Not letting the setback dampen their spirits, the Panthers answered back swiftly. Tkachuk's first goal of the night came off some slick passing from Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov, who had returned after missing time due to illness. "Felt good and happy to be back, especially with the win," Barkov said, clearly pleased with both his return and the team's performance.
By the end of the second period, Tkachuk would strike again, extending Florida's lead. His second goal came on the power play, via another chaotic sequence where he poked home a rebound, making it 4-1. The Panthers’ efficiency was tangible, as they maintained pressure throughout the game, out-hitting Minnesota 37 to 21 and utilizing their speed to dominate possession.
Bobrovsky, manning the net for the Panthers, was instrumental, stopping 26 of 27 shots on the night. "I think our last two games we were really good against two very, very strong rush teams," said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. His analysis reflects the team's strong defensive performance coupled with their ability to convert on opportunities.
The third period saw the Panthers continue their onslaught. Goals from Niko Mikkola and Eetu Luostarinen sealed the deal, pushing their lead to the final score of 6-1. Tkachuk's season tally surged to 13 goals, with eight of those coming within his last eight games, forging his reputation as a key player for Florida.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild faced their first back-to-back regulation losses of the season. Coach John Hynes commented on the game, noting, "I thought the game was competitive...we made a couple of errors late in the second," alluding to moments where the Wild let the game slip away, especially after failed challenges and missed opportunities.
Looking at the injury list, the Wild were definitely shorthanded, with Filip Gustavsson absent and important players like Joel Eriksson Ek still recovering. Marco Rossi, who scored Minnesota’s only goal of the night, was optimistic though, stating, "The puck bounces are not going our way right now, but we just have to keep going," as the team prepares to face the Utah Hockey Club next.
This victory puts Florida at 20-11-2 for the season, demonstrating their resilience and grit as they work through the season's midpoint. After their successful road trip, ending it with two strong victories, the Panthers are primed to return home for two of their next three games, starting with the St. Louis Blues on Friday.
