The Florida Panthers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in a shootout on Thursday night at Canada Life Centre.

Sam Bennet scored the lone goal for Florida, while Cole Perfetti found the back of the net for Winnipeg.

The game didn’t amp up until the third period, and both goalies nearly played two full periods of shutout hockey.

The opening frame wasn’t too eventful, but each team had their own chances.

Florida dominated the middle of the ice and were more rounded defensively and pressured the Jets in the offensive zone. The main seperator between Florida and Winnipeg was goaltending, and that was in Winnipeg’s favor.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped all six shots he faced, while Daniil Tarasov stopped all five respectively, but Hellebuyck faced more high-danger chances than Tarasov.

It set the stage for the second period to be the difference maker, and it certainly felt like whichever team scored first were going to win the game.

The second period was nearly the same low-event standard, but Florida managed to score the lone goal, and it sucked the life out of the building.

Throughout the period, both teams applied similar pressure, and it was clear that there were two tired teams on the ice due to the condensed schedule and injuries. The shots after the first 40 minutes were telling as Florida led 13-10 and had scored the lone goal.

With 1:15 left to play, Sam Bennett won the faceoff in the Jets’ end, and after some hot potato with the puck between the Jets and Panthers, Matthew Tkachuk settled the puck and sent it over to Bennett for the one-timer that beat Connor Hellebuyck high glove side.

Before this chance, Winnipeg had a chance on the power play, but couldn’t gain any ground in Florida’s end to set up for a goal.

Daniil Tarasov faced a few high danger chances, but the control on any rebounds was either by him or the Panthers defence.

The third period shaped up to be a pivotal period between two teams trying to gain any ground in their respective conference wildcard chases, and one goal was likely the deciding factor.

The third period provided no immediate opportunities for Florida, but the Jets were able to tie the game up and send it into overtime.

Cole Perfetti got the goal after Jonathan Toews got the puck on net and created a rebound opportunity that Perfetti picked up and dangled Daniil Tarasov to bury.

The physicality amped up, and Florida did what they did best, played a style just teetering on the line of overly physical.

As time wound down in the third period, the Jets continued to press Daniil Tarasov and seemed destined to score a last-minute heartbreaker, but a dump into the boards was held there, and overtime was needed.

Winnipeg had the best chances in overtime to end the game, and a shot by Josh Morrissey went off the crossbar, and a second shot later on by Mark Scheifele rang off the post.

Florida pushed late, but nothing was able to find the back of the net, and after some more back-and-forth, the buzzer sounded and a shootout was needed.

Kyle Connor began the shootout for Winnipeg, and he was denied high blocker side by Daniil Tarasov. Florida countered with Anton Lundell, who sent it five hole to beat Connor Hellebuyck and get the early edge in the shootout.

Winnipeg followed it up with Mark Scheifele, but he tried to go to his backhand and pop it in with a quick move to send a wrist shot past Tarasov, but Scheifele missed the net and gave Florida the golden opportunity to finish the game early in the shootout

Sam Reinhart was the final shooter of the shootout, and he sent a great wrist shot past Hellebuyck to get the extra point and pull the Panthers within five points of a wildcard spot.

The Jets look to get back into the win column as they prepare to face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. Puck drop for the game is set for 6:00 pm CST.

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