Rapid Recap: Panthers 4, Avalanche 1

The Colorado Avalanche fell 4-1 to the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena on Thursday. It was the Avalanche's first visit to Florida since Oct. 18, 2019.
Mikko Rantanen scored Colorado's goal while Jonas Johansson made his first start of the year and made 34 saves, including 21 in the second period.
Mason Marchment tallied the first goal of the game before Rantanen tied it. Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe found the back of the net in the middle frame to give Florida the lead before Anton Lundell sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves to pick up his 300th career NHL win.

Colorado finishes its three-game road trip on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Highlights

THE GOALS

1st Period
14:32 FLA (0-1) - Mason Marchment beat Samuel Girard to the puck behind the goal line and he set up Sam Reinhart to score the first goal of the game.
19:06 COL (1-1) - Mikko Rantanen tied the game from the top of the paint, assisted by Samuel Girard and Nathan MacKinnon.
2nd Period
9:04 FLA (1-2) - PPG, Sam Bennett scored from the high slot on the power play while Patric Hornqvist was screening Jonas Johansson.
19:13 CLA (1-3) - Carter Verhaeghe skated the puck from the outside of the right circle and into the slot and scored.
3rd Period
18:47 FLA (1-4) - ENG, Anton Lundell scored into an empty net.
Final:Panthers - 4 | Avalanche - 1

POWER PLAYS

Colorado:0 for 3
Florida:1 for 5

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Colorado:Jonas Johansson made his first start of the year and stopped 34 shots.
Florida:Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves in his 300th career win.

STAT OF THE NIGHT

Five of the last 10 Calder Trophy winners played in the contest: Cale Makar (2019-20), Aaron Ekblad (2014-15), Nathan MacKinnon (2013-14), Jonathan Huberdeau (2012-13) and Gabriel Landeskog (2011-12). Not only do the Avs have the most Calder winners over the last 10 years, they also have the most since arriving in Denver (four, add Chris Drury in 1998-99) and the most since the Quebec Nordiques entered the league in 1979-80 (six, add Peter Forsberg in 1994-95 and Peter Stastny in 1980-81).

NOTEBOOK

Mikko Rantanen scored his second of the year to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, two assists)… Sergei Bobrovsky earned his 300th career NHL win... The Avalanche visited South Florida for the first time in two years (last on Oct. 18, 2019)... Colorado and Florida faced off for the first time since Oct. 30, 2019.

BIG HIGHLIGHT

ROSTER REPORT

Gabriel Landeskog returned from his two-game suspension and was on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The trio of Darren Helm, Tyson Jost and Logan O'Connor remained the same while Nazem Kadri center a combination with Mikhail Maltsev and Andre Burakovsky. The Avs' final line comprised of Martin Kaut, J.T. Compher and Sampo Ranta. Colorado mixed up its top two defensive pairings with Bowen Byram skating with Cale Makar while Samuel Girard and Erik Johnson made up a duo. Jayson Megna and Kurtis MacDermid were the Avalanche scratches while Jonas Johansson made his first start of the season.

INJURY UPDATE

Valeri Nichushkin remains unavailable as he is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Pavel Francouz is out three-to-four weeks after suffering a lower-body injury in a preseason contest on Oct. 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Blueliner Devon Toews (upper body) remains a non-contact participant at practice and is on the road trip. Stefan Matteau will be out for weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered on Saturday.

UP NEXT

The Avalanche finishes its road trip on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.

LINE COMBINATIONS

Based on the start of the game
Forwards
92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
11 Mikhail Maltsev - 91 Nazem Kadri - 95 Andre Burakovsky
61 Martin Kaut - 37 J.T. Compher - 75 Sampo Ranta
43 Darren Helm - 17 Tyson Jost - 25 Logan O'Connor
Defensemen
4 Bowen Byram - 8 Cale Makar
49 Samuel Girard - 6 Erik Johnson
3 Jack Johnson - 28 Ryan Murray
Goaltenders
31 Jonas Johansson
35 Darcy Kuemper