The Florida Panthers secured a 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Tampere, Finland, completing a successful two-game sweep. AJ Greer scored his first goal for Florida early in the third period, with assists from Aleksander Barkov and Niko Mikkola, who both had strong performances in their homeland.
Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues, and Matthew Tkachuk also found the back of the net for the Panthers, extending their winning streak to five games. Reinhart's goal and assist in this game made him the second player in the NHL to reach 20 points this season, a remarkable achievement for the talented forward.
Dallas fought back with goals from Matt Duchene and Evgenii Dadonov, scored just 34 seconds apart in the second period. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers' determined performance.
Florida's goaltender, Spencer Knight, made 23 saves to secure the win, while Casey DeSmith stopped 20 shots for Dallas.
Notable moments from the game included Greer's go-ahead goal in the third period, assisted by Tomas Nosek, marking Nosek's first point for Florida. The seven Finnish players involved in the series, four from Florida and three from Dallas, combined for a total of 11 points. Panthers' captain Aleksander Barkov led the way with four points, showcasing his skill and leadership on the ice.
Looking ahead, the Stars will host Chicago on Thursday as part of a challenging schedule that includes games in three different countries. The Panthers, on the other hand, will kick off a five-game homestand against Nashville on Thursday, aiming to continue their winning momentum.
Overall, the Panthers' victory in Finland was a testament to their strong team performance and individual contributions, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the NHL season.
