Takeaways: Florida Panthers 5, New York Rangers 3

The Florida Panthers closed out the calendar year of 2024 with a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers.

After suffering back-to-back shutouts, it took the Florida Panthers less than six minutes go up by two goals on the New York Rangers.

They did not give up that lead, defeating the struggling Rangers 5-3 to snap a two-game losing skid to close out the calendar year of 2024.

Eetu Luostarinen got the Panthers on the board 3:04 into the first period — snapping a shutout skid of 2:03:39 — by deflecting a Gustav Forsling shot past Igor Shesterkin.

Dmitry Kulikov ripped a wrist shot through traffic past Shesterkin to put the Panthers ahead by two 5:21 into the game. The Rangers challenged the play for goaltender interference, to no avail, but the Panthers squandered the ensuing power play opportunity.

New York pounced on Florida in the second period — dominating possession and tying the game up with two goals in the second period — but Jesper Boqvist restored Florida’s lead by crashing the net and potting home a rebound with 3:05 to go in the frame.

Chris Kreider tied the game, again, 5:19 into the third, but Boqvist answered yet again. He bursted past the New York defense with speed before picking up his own rebound and putting it past Shesterkin with 8:33 to go.

Aleksander Barkov sealed the deal with an empty-net goal.

Regardless of the result of Toronto’s New Year’s Eve clash with the Islanders, the Panthers will end 2024 with at least a share of first place in the Atlantic Division.

A calendar year in which they captured their first Stanley Cup.

Here are three takeaways from Monday night’s game: