Reimer helps Panthers handle Capitals

WASHINGTON-- James Reimer made 41 saves for the Florida Panthers in a 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday.

Connor Brickley, Evgenii Dadonov, Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers (3-4-0), who won in Washington for the third time in 14 games.
Christian Djoos scored for the Capitals (4-4-1).
WATCH: [All Panthers vs. Capitals highlights]
Reimer was likely to start, but it was made certain when Roberto Luongo injured his right hand during a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
"Tonight we needed our goaltending at certain times of the game, and [Reimer] was the first star in my mind," Florida coach Bob Boughner said. "He was big, he was challenging the shooters, his rebound control was great, and it made it a lot easier for our [defensemen]."

Brickley, back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch Friday, scored 86 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead.
Florida then scored twice on the power play. Dadonov's goal with 30 seconds left in the first period increased the lead to 2-0. Trocheck's goal came during a 5-on-3 for a 3-0 lead at 8:58 of the second.
"It was more we were focused on ourselves, not really focusing on who we were playing," Trocheck said. "Three games in a row we didn't play to our identity and we needed to have a bounce-back game."
Barkov finished the scoring with a shorthanded, empty-net goal at 18:44 of the third period.

The Panthers ended a three-game losing streak despite a season-low 23 shots. After allowing three power-play goals to Pittsburgh on Friday, Florida killed all four penalties it took Saturday.
"They're a real good team and they've got a lot of offensive firepower," Reimer said. "But I thought our guys came in with a great mindset and just a will to do whatever it takes to beat this caliber of a team in their own barn on the back end of a back-to-back."
Washington goalie Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves. He has allowed 15 goals in three starts.
The Capitals are 1-3-0 at home. They have taken at least five penalties in five of nine games.

"The Panthers managed to stay out of the box until the last two minutes. They're probably playing a little smarter than us," Washington forward Lars Eller said. "You can pick your word: moving your feet or discipline. We just have to stay out of the box. It's too many, and I'm guilty of it. Other guys are too."

Goal of the game

The Panthers managed the puck on a 5-on-3 power play that ended with a one-timer by Trocheck. He dropped a pass to Dadonov on the right side of the ice inside the blue line and then looped toward the left face-off circle. Dadonov hit Barkov with a pass down low to the right of the net, and he threaded one of his own through the Capitals penalty killers to Trocheck for the shot.

Save of the game

Reimer kept Florida ahead 3-1 by spoiling a scoring chance by Devante Smith-Pelly at 14:08 of the third period. Dmitry Orlov's shot from a bad angle rebounded directly to Smith-Pelly, but Reimer shrugged off the wrist shot.

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Highlight of the game

Dadonov took a back pass in the high slot from Jonathan Huberdeau during a 5-on-4 power play. Capitals forward Tom Wilson dropped to the ice to block the shot, but Dadonov was patient. He held the puck an extra beat, skated around Wilson and beat Grubauer.

They said it

"[Luongo's] a heck of a goalie, and I'll keep saying that and I'll keep on saying that until the day I die. He's unbelievable at stopping pucks, he's had a heck of a career, and he continues to be an elite goaltender. But with him hurt a little bit, you go out there and just take it game by game and just try and stop the puck and give the guys a chance." -- Panthers goalie James Reimer
"We've done a lot winning here, so it gets a little frustrating. The last three years, we've strung a lot of games together and didn't lose too many in a row. … It's a little bit of a learning curve for everyone: myself, the coaching staff, management, our fans." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz on Washington's slow start

Need to know

Panthers forwards Colton Sceviour (upper body) and Jared McCann (lower body) did not finish the game. They are day to day.

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What's next

Panthers: At the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Capitals: At the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)