Florida coach Paul Maurice emphasized the importance of his team playing the tough, physical hockey they’ve been known for all season. The thrilling three-goal comeback served as a significant bonus for the Eastern Conference-leading Panthers.
Aleksander Barkov played a pivotal role with two power-play goals and an assist, clinching the winning goal with just over five minutes remaining. The Panthers rallied with a remarkable three-goal third period to secure a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
“We went through the first 30 minutes for sure, possibly two periods, we didn’t look the way we were supposed to look. It just wasn’t right, wasn’t hard enough,” remarked Maurice. “That’s all we needed in the third. It wasn’t about winning the game. … To not have anything going on for two periods and then get to play hard the way we need to play, that’s a really important thing to carry with you.”
The decisive goal came early into a power play when Barkov fired a shot from the right circle, deflecting off a Stars player in front of the net and allowing Matthew Tkachuk to capitalize from close range.
Tkachuk’s contributions were vital, earning two assists, including the tying goal with six minutes left when his shot found Sam Bennett’s stick to level the score. Only 38 seconds later, Barkov struck again on the power play, setting the stage for his game-winning goal. Carter Verhaeghe and Brandon Montour each contributed two assists for Florida.
Meanwhile, the Stars, led by Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Joe Pavelski, showed resilience with a goal and an assist each. However, their season-best five-game winning streak came to an end against the Panthers’ relentless comeback.
“For us, I think this group, this might come at a good time as far as this is a great reminder of what’s ahead of us,” Pavelski reflected. “We’re going to be in this situation again against good teams. … Take this as a lesson. This won’t be a low point for us long. We’ll be looking to right it and be better next time.”
Despite the Stars taking an early lead with goals from Pavelski and Robertson, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky showcased his resilience with 27 saves. Sam Reinhart and Barkov’s power-play goals, along with Tkachuk’s pivotal contributions, highlighted the Panthers’ determined effort.
While the Stars’ goalie, Jake Oettinger, made 26 saves, Florida’s comeback victory demonstrated their resilience and ability to capitalize on crucial opportunities, further solidifying their position atop the Eastern Conference standings.
