The Carolina Hurricanes blew a multi-goal lead for the third-consecutive game, and after being up two, allowed their opponent to score five unanswered goals in the final period.
Having fallen short in the two previous games where they blew the lead, the Canes (22-11-3) hosted the Florida Panthers (20-14-2) just four days after playing them in Sunrise. In this rematch, the Hurricanes came out strong, but lost their momentum and confidence in the third period, allowing five goals.
Letting the Hurricanes dictate the first 40 minutes, the Panthers fought back and took the lead with 13 minutes left to play. The goal was snapped home by center Anton Lundell, who was positioned in front of the net, ready to receive a pass that came from center Sam Reinhart. It came just 43 seconds after the goal that tied the game.
With 16 minutes left in the third period, Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola fired a shot from the top of the zone, receiving a lucky bounce off the inside of defenseman Alexander Nikishin’s skate into the net. This goal was the start of a change of momentum that led to the Panthers taking the lead in just over three minutes.
“Obviously, [the Panthers] are a good team,” said center Jordan Staal. “They’re going to come in the third. They have talent. They’re going to make you pay as soon as you make a mistake. The guys shelled up a bit the last few times, and with the games before, it’s hard. We have to have some confidence in our group.”
Three other Florida skaters capitalized on mistakes and opportunities given to them by the Canes. Centers Luke Kunin and Sam Bennett, and defenseman Seth Jones each found the back of the net late in the third, not letting off steam for a second.
Aside from the final 20 minutes, the Canes held possession and chose the pace. Passing the puck over 120 feet from the Canes’ zone, defenseman Joel Nystrom found center Sebastian Aho waiting in their offensive zone. Winger Eric Robinson, positioned in front of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, received the puck from Aho and fired it home.
“It was a good stretch pass by [Nystrom] there,” Robinson said. “We’re kind of rotating through some different lines here, so just ready for your name to be called. I got a chance to go with [Aho], and you know he is going to make a good pass when you’re out there, so just be ready.”
The second goal from the Canes that doubled its early lead came from winger Andrei Svechnikov, who was exiting the penalty box. Staal, swiftly and accurately, found Svechnikov skating alone into the Panthers’ zone, and went 5-hole past Bobrovsky.
Next up, the Hurricanes will host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, Dec. 27, with a 7 p.m puck drop.