NHL Roundup: Panthers Climb to Top of Eastern Conference with 3-2 OT Triumph over Senators…

NHL Roundup: Panthers Climb to Top of Eastern Conference with 3-2 OT Triumph over Senators…

In a thrilling showdown at Sunrise, Florida, Anton Lundell’s overtime heroics, scoring just 1:36 into the extra frame, propelled the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. With this win, the Panthers leapfrogged over the idle Boston Bruins, claiming the coveted top spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

Contributions from Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, coupled with a stellar performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who made 28 saves, secured the Panthers’ sixth consecutive triumph. On the Senators’ side, Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle found the back of the net, with Joonas Korpisalo making 31 saves in a valiant effort.

Ekblad, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to a lower-body injury, wasted no time in making an impact, scoring just 19 seconds into the game. This quick strike marked the second-fastest goal by a defenseman in franchise history.

In other NHL action on Tuesday:

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ISLANDERS 5, PENGUINS 4 (OT)

In a nail-biting contest, the New York Islanders edged past the Pittsburgh Penguins with Adam Pelech netting the overtime winner just 57 seconds into the extra period. Pelech’s goal, his first since April last year, salvaged the victory for the Islanders after they squandered a late lead.

Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, Simon Holmstrom, and Mike Reilly also found the back of the net for the Islanders, with goaltender Ilya Sorokin making 37 saves. Despite a spirited comeback effort from the Penguins, fueled by goals from Valtteri Puustinen, Drew O’Connor, Marcus Pettersson, and Lars Eller, the Islanders emerged victorious.

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AVALANCHE 3, CANUCKS 1

In a clash with NHL-leading Vancouver, the Colorado Avalanche secured a 3-1 victory with Ryan Johansen breaking out of a scoring slump, netting two goals to propel his team to victory. Alexandar Georgiev stood tall between the pipes, making 24 saves to stifle the Canucks’ offense. Nathan MacKinnon’s assist on Artturi Lehkonen’s empty-net goal extended his point streak to all 27 home games this season. Despite J.T. Miller’s goal for the Canucks and Thatcher Demko’s 24 saves, Vancouver suffered their third consecutive defeat.

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PREDATORS 5, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3

In a spirited matchup, the Nashville Predators emerged triumphant against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Tommy Novak’s goal contributing to their 5-3 win. The Predators showcased offensive depth with Luke Evangelista, Cody Glass, Cole Smith, and Gustav Nyquist also finding the back of the net. Despite goals from Alex Pietrangelo, William Karlsson, and Michael Amadio for the Golden Knights, the Predators’ resilient performance secured them consecutive victories for the first time since mid-January. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen, making his first start since January, made 23 saves to seal the win for Nashville.