Panthers Bounce Back with Convincing Win Over Capitals After Rough Night in Raleigh
After a humbling loss to the Hurricanes on Friday, the Florida Panthers came into Saturday night with something to prove-and they wasted no time setting the tone. From the opening puck drop against the Washington Capitals, Florida looked like a team on a mission. Relentless on the forecheck, dominant in puck possession, and dialed in defensively, the Panthers controlled the game early and never really let go, skating away with a 5-2 win.
While the final score suggests a comfortable victory, it took some time for the offense to catch up to the energy and effort Florida brought out of the gate. The Panthers outshot Washington 14-4 in the first period and had a massive 28-13 edge in shot attempts, yet they only had one goal to show for it-A.J. Greer’s 10th of the season, a gritty finish off a rebound in the slot.
That early dominance was nearly undone in the second period, thanks to a standout stretch from Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The Boca Raton native and former Jr.
Panther put on a show in front of familiar faces, scoring twice in just over eight minutes to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 Washington lead. His first was a slick wrister from the left circle that beat Daniil Tarasov under the glove.
The second came from distance, a point shot that found its way through traffic.
But Florida didn’t flinch.
Sam Bennett responded with a timely equalizer, showcasing the kind of awareness and finish that makes him such a valuable piece in Florida’s middle six. After Carter Verhaeghe’s shot was blocked in front, Bennett tracked the loose puck, spun, and beat Logan Thompson to tie things up.
Then came Uvis Balinskis, who’s quietly heating up offensively. The Latvian defenseman extended his scoring streak to three games and gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead with a heads-up play on the power play.
After keeping the puck in the zone on a failed Washington clear, Balinskis let a shot go from the point that navigated through a maze of bodies and into the back of the net. That’s now goals in back-to-back games for Balinskis, who also had Florida’s lone tally in Friday’s 9-1 loss.
The third period was all about closing the door-and the Panthers did just that. With Washington pressing late, Florida capitalized on two empty-net opportunities to seal the deal. Anton Lundell buried the first after a clean feed from Sam Reinhart, and Verhaeghe added the exclamation point with his own empty-netter less than a minute later.
Tarasov Solid Again
Daniil Tarasov quietly put together another strong performance, stopping 23 shots to earn his second straight win-and his first since Jan. 4 against the Avalanche. While Chychrun got the better of him twice in the second period, Tarasov came up big when it mattered, including a key save just before Florida’s opening goal. He’s starting to look more comfortable between the pipes, and that’s a promising sign for a Panthers team that needs consistency in net.
Chychrun Shines in Homecoming
Though it came in a losing effort, Jakob Chychrun was one of the Capitals’ few bright spots. The 25-year-old defenseman now has 17 goals on the year, second among NHL blueliners behind only Zach Werenski.
He was chasing history on Saturday-trying to become the first NHL defenseman to record a hat trick since Brandon Montour did it against the Kraken back in October 2024. He didn’t get the third, but his impact was undeniable.
Resilient Panthers Stay Strong After Losses
Florida continues to show an ability to bounce back. With this win, the Panthers improved to 13-7-1 in games following a loss-tied for the third-most such wins in the league behind only Edmonton and St.
Louis. That kind of mental toughness is what separates playoff contenders from pretenders.
Three Stars of the Night 1.
Daniil Tarasov - Steady in net and came up with key saves when the game was tight. 2.
Sam Bennett - Big-time response goal in the second, plus an assist on the opener. 3.
Jakob Chychrun - Two goals and a strong showing in front of his hometown crowd.
Up Next: Back Home vs. San Jose
The Panthers return to Sunrise for Game No. 48 as they host the San Jose Sharks. With momentum back on their side, Florida will look to build on this bounce-back win and continue climbing in the standings.