The Florida Panthers are riding high as they head to the Pacific Northwest, aiming to stretch their winning streak to four games. Tonight, they face off against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena, marking the first of two meetings this season between these geographically distant teams.
Sam Reinhart was the hero in their last outing, netting a power-play goal just 2:20 into overtime, securing a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although Reinhart won't be joining the team on this four-game road trip, his impact was undeniable.
He also assisted on Sam Bennett’s power-play goal that leveled the score early in the third period. Mike Benning made a memorable NHL debut, picking up an assist, while Matthew Tkachuk and Mackie Samoskevich also contributed with assists.
The backbone of the victory, however, was Sergei Bobrovsky, who delivered an outstanding 30-save performance to keep the Panthers in the game.
On the other side, the Seattle Kraken are coming off a strong performance, having defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 last night. This win brings them within a single point of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Bobby McMann made a splash in his Seattle debut, scoring twice and adding an assist after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs on deadline day. Former Panther Jared McCann, along with Jamie Oleksiak and Matty Beniers, also found the back of the net for the Kraken.
Philipp Grubauer was solid between the pipes, stopping 32 shots to help secure the win.
As the Panthers and Kraken prepare to clash, both teams are keenly aware of the playoff implications. With the Panthers looking to maintain their momentum and the Kraken eager to climb into a playoff position, tonight’s game promises to be a thrilling encounter.