RECAP: Florida Panthers 3, Calgary Flames 0
Sergei Bobrovsky out-duels Dan Vladar in 23-save shutout effort.
SUNRISE, Fla. — It took some patience, but Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers were able to bury the Calgary Flames, 3-0, for their eighth victory in their past 10 games.
The Panthers were held to just one goal — and a couple of overturned goals — on 35 shots entering the final minute of the second period, but behind a 23-save shutout by Bobrovsky and a pair of goals from the second line, they were able to surge to victory.
Florida was held off the scoresheet completely by Flames goalie in the first period. They outshot the Flames 16-6, came up empty on a power play, and Dan Vladar ultimately shut the door on them.
Vladar finished the game with 39 saves on 42 shots.
Jonah Gadjovich broke the finally dam open 4:47 into the second period. He took a couple whacks at a bouncing puck — one that hit Vladar’s glove — before banking it home. Calgary reviewed the play for goaltender interference, but it stood as his third goal of the season.
Carter Verhaeghe came close to making it a 2-0 game less than four minutes later. With 11:38 to go in the second period, Vladar dove to stop a backhand shot that looked like it was headed for a wide-open net and stopped it at the goal line. The play was reviewed, but the league could not confirm that the puck crossed the goal line.
Florida appeared to make it a two-goal game again with 3:56 to go in the second period. Vladar made a glove save on Sam Reinhart, but his glove was behind the goal line. Only Verhaeghe had knocked him down seconds earlier, getting the goal taken off the board upon review due to goaltender interference.
Evan Rodrigues gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead — at long last — when he banked a centering feed off a sprawling Flames defender past Vladar with 35.2 seconds to go in the second period.
Mackie Samoskevich extended Florida’s lead to 3-0 with 3:52 to go with a slick backhand move off the rush. It was the rookie forward’s 10th goal in 52 games this season.
The Panthers jumped the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division with the victory.