Ekblad, Barkov lead Panthers to 4-2 win over Canucks
Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) stops a shot by Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
More
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Aleksander Barkov has put an extended scoring slump behind him, and that finally helped the Florida Panthers end a losing streak Saturday night.
Barkov had a goal and an assist and has 11 points in his last 12 games, including four goals in the past six. Earlier in the season, Barkov slogged through a drought of 21 games without a goal.
Those recent points hadn't done the Panthers much good, though, until the Canucks came to town. Aaron Ekblad gave Florida a three-goal lead early in the third period and the Panthers held on for a 4-2 victory over Vancouver to end a five-game slide.
''I couldn't score in (21) games, and then I scored finally. And now I'm feeling more confident,'' Barkov said.
The Panthers won their first home game under interim coach Tom Rowe. The win was the Panthers' first in regulation since a victory over Ottawa on Nov. 19, a span of 11 games.
''I love that. A bunch of teams in our division lost so we gain ground on everybody in front of us,'' Rowe said.
Vincent Trocheck scored his first goal in 18 games. Derek MacKenzie also scored for Florida. Roberto Luongo made 37 saves, and Jaromir Jagr recorded an assist and now has 1,883 points, four behind Mark Messier for second on the NHL career list.
The play of Barkov seemed to lift the Panthers offense, which hadn't scored four goals since the Ottawa game.
''He's playing the way we expected him to,'' Rowe said. ''He's being Barkov. It removes a lot of pressure from other guys.''
Stress had been building for the Panthers. They're still reeling from an unexpected coaching change, with Rowe replacing Gerard Gallant in late November.
''It feels like they're all must wins,'' Luongo said. ''Everybody's bunched up together. You want to look at it one game at a time.''
Daniel Sedin and Jack Skille scored in the third period for the Canucks. Jacob Markstrom stopped 38 shots.
With the Panthers clinging to a 3-2 lead, Trocheck scored an empty-net goal with 47.1 seconds left.
Trailing 3-0, the Canucks scored twice in the third.
Skille took a shot from low in the right circle that got past Luongo on the glove side at 8:06 of the third. Skille has three goals in two games.
A power-play goal by Sedin made the score 3-2. Troy Stecher shot from the point, and the puck hit Sedin's stick and was redirected into the net at 11:45 of the third.
''We had our chances for sure,'' Sedin said. ''Luongo was good. But it's still too late. Chasing being down 3-0, it's tough. We made it tough on ourselves.''
The Panthers had stretched their lead to 3-0 at 1:05 of the third. Jagr took a shot from above the right circle that was blocked by Markstrom. Ekblad backhanded the rebound and beat Markstrom on the stick side.
Barkov gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead 2:22 in. Seth Griffith passed from behind the net to Barkov in front, who poked the puck past Markstrom. Barkov has points in 11 of his past 12 games.
The Panthers went ahead 2-0 on MacKenzie's goal. MacKenzie corralled a bouncing puck and pushed it into the net at 9:35 of the second. Paul Thompson recorded his first NHL point with the first assist on the goal.
Canucks goalie Ryan Miller could return Sunday against the Capitals. He left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury.
''I won't know yet. Ryan will probably try to take some shots in the morning. We'll get a read on him in the morning and then we'll make our decision,'' Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said.
NOTES: Canucks D Erik Gudbranson, who was the first-round pick by the Panthers in 2010 and played for the Panthers for five years, received a video tribute and an ovation from the crowd in his first return since being traded to Vancouver last June. ''I definitely didn't expect that from them. I really appreciate it,'' Gudbranson said. ... G Thatcher Demko was called up from Utica of the AHL because Miller's injury. ... C Jayson Megna was born in nearby Fort Lauderdale. ... Panthers D Keith Yandle played his 580th consecutive game, tying Johnny Wilson for the ninth longest stretch in the NHL. ... Jim Craig, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won a gold medal, attended the game.
UP NEXT:
Canucks: Visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Panthers: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom (25) stops a shot by Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
More
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Aleksander Barkov has put an extended scoring slump behind him, and that finally helped the Florida Panthers end a losing streak Saturday night.
Barkov had a goal and an assist and has 11 points in his last 12 games, including four goals in the past six. Earlier in the season, Barkov slogged through a drought of 21 games without a goal.
Those recent points hadn't done the Panthers much good, though, until the Canucks came to town. Aaron Ekblad gave Florida a three-goal lead early in the third period and the Panthers held on for a 4-2 victory over Vancouver to end a five-game slide.
''I couldn't score in (21) games, and then I scored finally. And now I'm feeling more confident,'' Barkov said.
The Panthers won their first home game under interim coach Tom Rowe. The win was the Panthers' first in regulation since a victory over Ottawa on Nov. 19, a span of 11 games.
''I love that. A bunch of teams in our division lost so we gain ground on everybody in front of us,'' Rowe said.
Vincent Trocheck scored his first goal in 18 games. Derek MacKenzie also scored for Florida. Roberto Luongo made 37 saves, and Jaromir Jagr recorded an assist and now has 1,883 points, four behind Mark Messier for second on the NHL career list.
The play of Barkov seemed to lift the Panthers offense, which hadn't scored four goals since the Ottawa game.
''He's playing the way we expected him to,'' Rowe said. ''He's being Barkov. It removes a lot of pressure from other guys.''
Stress had been building for the Panthers. They're still reeling from an unexpected coaching change, with Rowe replacing Gerard Gallant in late November.
''It feels like they're all must wins,'' Luongo said. ''Everybody's bunched up together. You want to look at it one game at a time.''
Daniel Sedin and Jack Skille scored in the third period for the Canucks. Jacob Markstrom stopped 38 shots.
With the Panthers clinging to a 3-2 lead, Trocheck scored an empty-net goal with 47.1 seconds left.
Trailing 3-0, the Canucks scored twice in the third.
Skille took a shot from low in the right circle that got past Luongo on the glove side at 8:06 of the third. Skille has three goals in two games.
A power-play goal by Sedin made the score 3-2. Troy Stecher shot from the point, and the puck hit Sedin's stick and was redirected into the net at 11:45 of the third.
''We had our chances for sure,'' Sedin said. ''Luongo was good. But it's still too late. Chasing being down 3-0, it's tough. We made it tough on ourselves.''
The Panthers had stretched their lead to 3-0 at 1:05 of the third. Jagr took a shot from above the right circle that was blocked by Markstrom. Ekblad backhanded the rebound and beat Markstrom on the stick side.
Barkov gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead 2:22 in. Seth Griffith passed from behind the net to Barkov in front, who poked the puck past Markstrom. Barkov has points in 11 of his past 12 games.
The Panthers went ahead 2-0 on MacKenzie's goal. MacKenzie corralled a bouncing puck and pushed it into the net at 9:35 of the second. Paul Thompson recorded his first NHL point with the first assist on the goal.
Canucks goalie Ryan Miller could return Sunday against the Capitals. He left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury.
''I won't know yet. Ryan will probably try to take some shots in the morning. We'll get a read on him in the morning and then we'll make our decision,'' Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said.
NOTES: Canucks D Erik Gudbranson, who was the first-round pick by the Panthers in 2010 and played for the Panthers for five years, received a video tribute and an ovation from the crowd in his first return since being traded to Vancouver last June. ''I definitely didn't expect that from them. I really appreciate it,'' Gudbranson said. ... G Thatcher Demko was called up from Utica of the AHL because Miller's injury. ... C Jayson Megna was born in nearby Fort Lauderdale. ... Panthers D Keith Yandle played his 580th consecutive game, tying Johnny Wilson for the ninth longest stretch in the NHL. ... Jim Craig, a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won a gold medal, attended the game.
UP NEXT:
Canucks: Visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Panthers: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani faces 170 suspended laws.. Will they be approved or deported?
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary demands to cancel the security agreement with Washington
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» MP: Oil derivatives smuggling has decreased by 80% in Iraq
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» After years of controversy, the Minority Protection Act is submitted for the first reading
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sayhoud: The ministerial reshuffle is useless for several reasons
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Iraqi government makes changes to the General Secretariat: Al-Juhaishi succeeds Al-Halbousi
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Extension of the legislative term of the Iraqi parliament for an additional month to pass laws
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: The necessity of strengthening Iraq's position to be at the forefront of the region'
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Transportation: We are determined to pass the Civil Aviation Authority Law
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Council: Study of the reality of companies applying to implement projects
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Water Resources announces its control over the oil slick in the Tigris River
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Reconstruction: A new government vision for distributing serviced lands among those entitled to them
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Immigration Committee demands increasing the amount of the return grant
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Accreditation of specialized graduates to support quality control
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Heritage markets and buildings in Mosul after its reconstruction
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Specialized committee to ensure acceptance of cybersecurity outputs
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Interior issues mechanisms to regulate the work of private security companies
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Council: Study of the reality of companies applying to implement projects
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Welcome to the trends of establishing an administrative capital
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Securities trade more than 88 billion shares
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Imports and dependence on oil are obstacles to Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Launch of the International Chamber of Commerce in Iraq
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Private sector and housing projects
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Sovereign guarantees... a trend that promotes national industries
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Development of tax policies and laws
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Basra Council reviews the mechanisms of the smart transformation system that the Ministry of Electri
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Against the backdrop of the rise in the best subscriptions...Nineveh Council: Fuel quotas for genera
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Trade: Launching the International Chamber of Commerce branch in Iraq
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Parliament.. A new political path under the leadership of President Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» ommunications and Media Commission implements 54 projects to serve more than 162 thousand beneficiar
Today at 4:20 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework comments on the expected ministerial amendment: Information is exclusivel
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives draft memorandum of understanding to establish the Supreme Ministerial Council be
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Interior Minister discusses with Iranian counterpart in Tehran common files between the two countrie
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Integrity and the Financial Supervision Bureau agree to activate the cooperation agreement between t
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Victory Coalition: We call for adopting Imam Sistani’s directives as a document of principles for po
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» The expected Kurdistan government.. between accelerating events and complex scenarios - Urgent
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Details of Talabani's meeting with the US Ambassador: The next government is a citizen's government
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» "Before the axe falls on the head" .. Al-Sadr warns the Sudanese against adopting the issue of the "
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq announces success in investing 67% of associated gas and converting it into energy
Today at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Parliament overcomes Thursday's trap.. Sessions complain about their personal conditions and seek a
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» The Election Commission closes the door to appeals in the Kurdistan elections with 41 appeals
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq signs a contract with “Hisabi Project” to localize salaries of the region’s emplo
Today at 4:01 am by Rocky
» Baghdad faces a new test to maintain balance.. Threats of Iranian response to Israel from Iraqi terr
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Rafidain and Rashid deny the suspension of electronic payment devices: The service continues
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani agrees to launch an initiative to attract talent in the public and private sectors
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» MP: 11 draft laws ready to be presented to the House of Representatives
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani and Al-Mashhadani discuss cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities
Today at 3:53 am by Rocky
» Sudanese agrees to launch an initiative on artificial intelligence
Today at 3:51 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to rise.. Learn about the exchange rates in the Iraqi markets
Today at 3:49 am by Rocky
» Mechanisms for regulating the work of private security companies in Iraq
Today at 3:48 am by Rocky
» Transport decides to reject partnership between the General Company for Airports Management and the
Today at 3:45 am by Rocky
» What does the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan expect from Mahmoud al-Mashhadani? Al-Sumaria reveals
Today at 3:43 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/3/24 Launch of the International Chamber of Commerce in Iraq
Yesterday at 1:50 pm by Rocky
» utube 11/2/24 MM&C Report-Iraq 3 Presidents-National-Constitutional Entitlements-Open Market Operati
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» utube 10/31/24 MM&C Central Bank Governor of Iraq-Monetary Stability Directly Stimulating the Econom
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» utube 10/31/24 MM&C MM&C News Reporting-Security & Stability-Sinjar Allocations-Unprecedented Develo
Yesterday at 7:15 am by Rocky
» Rafidain and Rashid deny the suspension of electronic payment devices: The service continues
Yesterday at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Iraq meets a third of housing needs, two directions identified to solve the crisis completely
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Activating the General Amnesty Law, a summary of the meeting between Al-Mashhadani and Al-Dhari
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary recommendations to change "five" ministers in Al-Sudani's government.. Get to know the
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» The controversy over the “controversial laws” continues.. and Al-Mashhadani confirms: They will not
Yesterday at 6:58 am by Rocky
» Sunday's currency auction.. 99% of the Central Bank of Iraq's sales went abroad
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Higher fines and powers.. the most prominent amendments to the expected Civil Defense Law
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Transport announces completion of initial design phase of development road with its land and rail ro
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Security: The Intelligence Law is ready.. 3 important paragraphs
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Central Bank dollar sales rise in today's auction
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Divided into three... Al-Fatlawi criticizes the Arab and Islamic position towards the aggression on
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Transport Committee reveals upcoming quadripartite meeting on development path
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Planning: The ministerial amendment is based on 4 directions
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» "Until the case is settled"... the judiciary suspends the decision to dismiss Al-Karwi from the pres
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Increasing for a year and a half.. Announcing the results of the investigation into Baghdad's pollut
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Banking Association: Reducing inflation helped stabilize commodity prices
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Investment and Development Committee calls for commitment to the “Investment Law”
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance settles the controversy: This is the fate of the appointments file in the 2025
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq explains procedures for money transfers and combating money laundering
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Within three days, Iraq indicates an increase in the number of aircraft landing and crossing the air
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Public services reveal the reality of the capital.. This is what it needs
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Population growth and ongoing suffering.. A briefing on the "deteriorating" situation in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Proposes Attracting Real Estate Developers
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Direction to transfer beneficiaries of the protection network to the Social Security Law
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Speaker of Parliament
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» I learned {morning}
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to establish the concept of (Made in Iraq)
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani to {Al-Sabah}: Controversial laws will be presented unanimously
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Establishment of Al-Ghadeer Residential City in Muthanna
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Work: Transferring beneficiaries of the safety net to the Social Security Law
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» The most prominent achievements of the Sudanese government in the education sector
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Welcome to the trends of establishing an administrative capital
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Securities trade more than 88 billion shares
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Imports and dependence on oil are obstacles to Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Preparatory meetings for the 40th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Coop
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry: Our visit program to Basra will include following up on the progress of work a
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani and the Secretary-General of the Iraqi National Project stress the importance of activ
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry discusses action plan to complete steel plant in Basra and operate it on schedu
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sayhoud: Accelerating the implementation of the strategic development road project will advance t
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Amnesty International issues a “warning” to the Iraqi government over “violations” inside Al-Jadaa c
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky