SAN JOSE, Calif. — Defenseman Aaron Ekblad made a triumphant return from an upper-body injury, contributing significantly to the Florida Panthers’ impressive 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Ekblad recorded a goal and an assist in his comeback, while Matthew Tkachuk added to the tally with a goal and two assists. Other contributors for the Panthers included Nate Schmidt, Sam Bennett, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist, and Sam Reinhart, with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky making 22 saves in the game.
The turning point came in the second period when Florida dominated San Jose, outscoring them 4-0, and transforming a tight 3-2 lead into a decisive blowout.
On the other side, the Sharks managed to find the back of the net through Cody Ceci and Will Smith but continue to struggle, suffering six consecutive losses and just one win out of their last eleven games.
Greer’s goal early in the second period extended the Panthers’ lead to 4-2, which prompted the Sharks to switch goalies. Alexandar Georgiev was replaced by Yaroslav Askarov, but the change had little effect as Florida quickly added three more goals from Tkachuk, Boqvist, and Reinhart to take a commanding 7-2 advantage heading into the third period.
After the first period, the Panthers already held a 3-2 lead, thanks to Ekblad’s performance as he returned to his position on the team’s top defensive pairing after being sidelined for eight out of the last nine games.
In terms of key takeaways, the Panthers matched their season high by scoring seven goals, showcasing a notable rebound from their previous outing where they managed only one goal in a loss to the Kings.
Conversely, the Sharks have allowed five or more goals in their last three games and currently find themselves with the worst goals-against record in the NHL this season.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky decided to pull Georgiev just three minutes into the second period in hopes of reigniting the team’s spark. However, the strategy backfired as the Panthers scored three more goals swiftly, extinguishing any chance of a comeback.
Notably, this game marked the Panthers’ third instance this season of scoring four goals in a single period.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night, while the Sharks are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.
