The Florida Panthers started strong but faltered in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas seized the lead at 5:28 on their first shot when Brayden McNabb scored after a setup by Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar. Despite Florida’s initial energy, turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Vegas to dictate the game early.
Second Period Push from Vegas
Vegas extended their lead early in the second period. Tanner Pearson, set up by Roy and Kolesar, used a precise wrist shot to beat Spencer Knight for a 2-0 advantage. Florida struggled to counter as the Golden Knights capitalized on defensive lapses. The Panthers’ offensive pressure failed to materialize into goals, leaving them chasing the game.
Florida Panthers vs Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)Florida finally broke through in the third period. Uvis Balinskis collected a loose puck and passed to Eetu Luostarinen, whose shot was deflected in by Anton Lundell at 1:56. Lundell’s effort gave the Panthers a spark, but Adin Hill’s stellar goaltending stymied further scoring attempts. Vegas quickly regained momentum with Jack Eichel’s breakaway goal, making it 3-1.
Vegas Seals the Victory
Vegas sealed the win with a late empty-netter from Tomas Hertl, assisted by Nicolas Roy, who notched his third assist. The Panthers’ defense struggled to contain Vegas’ dynamic offense, and their inability to convert 33 shots into more than one goal proved costly. Spencer Knight made 22 saves, but the lack of goal support left him with a tough result.
Adin Hill’s 32-save performance earned him the First Star honors. Anton Lundell extended his strong run with points in five of his last six games. Tomas Hertl’s scoring streak reached nine games, while Aleksander Barkov’s offensive drought continued. The Panthers finished their road trip 2-2, with Knight taking both losses despite keeping the team competitive.
