In an exciting matchup, the Florida Panthers rallied to secure a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth, showcasing impressive performances from several key players. The game was marked by a series of momentum shifts, with both teams exhibiting determination and skill.
The scoring opened with Dylan Guenther, who found the back of the net for Utah at 11:23 of the first period. Guenther capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, cleverly slipping the puck through Sergei Bobrovsky’s legs to give the Mammoth an early lead.
However, the Panthers responded just before the end of the first period. Carter Verhaeghe tied the game at 19:17, redirecting a shot from defenseman Aaron Ekblad into the net, bringing energy back to the Florida side.
The second period saw Sam Bennett take center stage for the Panthers. He put Florida ahead 2-1 at 1:40, delivering a well-placed wrist shot that beat Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka on the blocker side. Bennett quickly followed up just a minute and a half later, extending their lead to 3-1 by tapping in a pass from Verhaeghe.
Utah fought back, with Guenther netting his second goal of the night at 3:37, once again using a breakaway to score and narrowing the gap to 3-2. The momentum shifted further when Jack McBain managed to tie the game at 14:37, capitalizing on a rebound off a shot by teammate Sean Durzi.
The tense back-and-forth finally swung in Florida’s favor when Anton Lundell tapped in a deflection from Eetu Luostarinen at the left post, following a setup from Sam Reinhart. This crucial goal put the Panthers ahead 4-3, sealing their third consecutive victory and improving their season record to 15 wins, 12 losses, and 2 overtime losses.
In addition to Lundell’s decisive play, Bennett shone with two goals and an assist, while Verhaeghe contributed a goal and an assist, extending his impressive goal streak to four games. Bobrovsky had a solid performance in goal, making 27 saves to help secure the win.
On the opposite side, the Mammoth faced a tough defeat, marking their third loss in a row and seventh in their last nine games. Karel Vejmelka faced a substantial number of shots, making 32 saves but ultimately unable to hold off the rising Panthers’ offense.
