The Florida Panthers were uncharacteristically stuck in the opening moments of the second period against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. They were down by two goals, and struggling to crack James Reimer and the Sharks’ defense. They were controlling possession and putting together some scoring chances, but it wasn’t turning into goals in the way it usually does when they face a lesser opponent in Sunrise.
It wasn’t quite desperation time, which called for a not-quite-desperation measure. It was time for Andrew Brunette to break out his secret weapon: It was time to put Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau back together on his top line.
“I just felt we were close,” the interim coach said Saturday, “but we were kind of far away, at the same time.”
