SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand made a memorable impression during his debut in Florida by assisting on the decisive goal scored by Sam Bennett with just 41.1 seconds left in overtime, leading the Panthers to a 2-1 victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Friday night.
Bennett was the star for Florida, netting both of their goals. His first came in the second period with the help of Mackie Samoskevich and Aleksander Barkov. Utah managed to level the score early in the third period with Sean Durzi’s third goal of the season.
This victory propelled Florida back to the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a 44-25-3 record, amassing 91 points. They lead by a narrow margin, with one point ahead of Toronto and two ahead of Tampa Bay. Each of these teams has 10 games left to play, and Florida is set to face Toronto twice and Tampa Bay once as the season progresses.
Florida’s organization paid homage to Utah forward Kevin Stenlund during the first period, a tradition reserved for former players who left Florida after their Stanley Cup victory last year. The tribute included a video presentation and a warm ovation, to which Stenlund responded with a wave to the crowd.
Stenlund had previously received his championship ring in January when the Panthers played in Utah.
Observations
Utah: The team struggled significantly, conceding 14 consecutive goals in matches against Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Florida. They went 158 minutes and 9 seconds without a goal until Durzi broke the drought with a four-on-four goal early in the third period.
Panthers: The new line featuring Marchand, Samoskevich, and Bennett opened the game for Florida. Marchand’s every move with the puck was met with an amplified response from the crowd.
Crucial Moment
The Panthers successfully killed off a power play with 3:23 remaining when Utah was given a power play opportunity, courtesy of Eetu Luostarinen’s holding penalty in a deadlock match.
Statistical Insight
Utah is struggling this season with a 1-18-3 record in games where they score two or fewer goals. Their sole victory in such games was a 2-0 shutout against Philadelphia earlier this month.
Future Games
Both teams are set to play again on Sunday. Utah will visit Chicago while the Panthers prepare to host Montreal.