SUNRISE, Fla. — Jonathan Huberdeau flashed a smile while his second shot of the game found the back of the Winnipeg Jets’ net and he crashed into the boards behind the goal. Less than five minutes were gone and the All-Star forward already had two goals to start the Florida Panthers on their way to a 6-1 rout Friday in Sunrise.
He was having fun. He already has the first 100-point season in team history and these two were easy — the 28-year-old Canadian was in the right place at the right time to score with Connor Hellebuyck out of position.
They were exactly what he and the Panthers needed, though. After two weeks of close calls and come-from-behind wins, Florida (53-15-6) scored its most convincing win of April and Huberdeau, who already set an NHL single-season record for assists by a left wing, got to build his case for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
