There aren’t many spots open on the Florida Panthers’ roster, but one former Bruins forward made his case stronger on Monday night.
Jack Studnicka scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Florida a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the ex-top prospect’s second goal of the game, the first coming 56 seconds into regulation.
“It’s cool,” Studnicka told reporters after the game of his overtime goal. “I don’t know if I have one of those on an NHL ice sheet. Preseason or not, it’s cool.”
The game-winning tally came on Florida’s first overtime shift. Defenseman Jeff Petry shot from the point and the puck bounced off Studnicka’s legs before he scored from the slot for the win.
Studnicka is on the bubble of making the Panthers’ Opening Night roster. Injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk might pave a clearer path, but the 26-year-old’s plan from the jump was to try to stand out.
“My plan was to come into camp and try to at least put my name in the conversation,” he said. “Just taking it day by day.”
Studnicka, a second-round pick by the Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Stanley Cup champions on the first day of free agency this summer. He spent parts of his first four NHL seasons with the Bruins, but wasn’t able to carve out a full-time role in their lineup.
The Bruins traded Studnicka in October 2022 to the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Michael DiPietro and defenseman Jonathan Myrenberg.
In 38 games with Boston, the Studnicka scored one goal and added six assists.
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