5 TAKEAWAYS: Bobrovsky sets wins record as streaking Panthers beat Jets

SUNRISE, Fla. -Sergei Bobrovsky stands alone.
Making 30 saves en route to his franchise-record 36th win of the season, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner helped lead the Panthers to a 6-1 win over the Jets at FLA Live Arena on Friday.

"It's a team record," said Bobrovsky, who surpassed Roberto Luongo's previous record of 35 wins. "It's not me. It's all about the team. By myself, I'm nothing. As a team we're strong, but individually we're nothing. … You play and don't think about those things. You focus on the moment and one shot at a time. But it is nice, for sure. I'm happy with that. I'm happy with how things have gone for me and for the team this season here. I just continue to enjoy the game."
There's certainly been an abundance of enjoyment this season.
With eight games left to go in the season, the Panthers, who are riding a season-long, nine-game winning streak, have already set franchise records for both wins (53) and points (112), and currently own a 10-point lead over the Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division.
"I thought we've tightened some things up here the last week or so," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said. "I think that's a sign that we can try to keep building on to get our complete both-sides-of-the-puck game as high as we possibly can before the playoffs start."
Coming out hot, Jonathan Huberdeau opened the scoring just 2:03 into the first period when he pounced on a rebound and sent a shot past Connor Hellebuyck to put the Panthers up 1-0. Less than three minutes later, he buried a cross-ice feed from Claude Giroux to make it 2-0 at 4:47.
With his first tally, Huberdeau extended his career-long point streak to 13 games.
Right after the Panthers killed off a penalty early in the second period, Gustav Forsling hopped out of the box, collected a tape-to-tape stretch pass from Sam Reinhart and lifted a backhand shot straight over Hellebuyck's glove and into the twine to extend Florida's lead to 3-0 at 2:55.
"I think that might have been my first backhand goal ever," the smooth-skating Swede said.
Finding the back of the net again for his second multi-goal game of the month, Forsling closed out the period just like he opened it when he took a pass from Huberdeau and wired a shot from the high slot into the twine to make it 4-0 with just 3:39 left on the clock in the middle frame.
At the start of the third period, Eric Comrie replaced Hellebuyck in Winnipeg's net.
Getting the Jets on the board, Nikolaj Ehlers jumped on a rebound and sent the rubber past Bobrovsky from a sharp angle to make it 4-1 at 1:07. But before that score could even be announced, Mason Marchment answered with a goal for the Panthers to make it 5-1 at 1:54.
At the 7-minute mark, Maxim Mamin added another goal to make it 6-1 and ice the game away.

"Haven't really looked [at the standings] much this week," Reinhart said. "Just trying to keep our foot on the gas and stay ahead of the eight ball because there's a lot of good teams behind us."
Here are five takeaways from Friday's win in Sunrise…

1. HUBY COMES OUT HOT

Huberdeau had another MVP-worthy performance.
Padding his resume for the Hart Trophy, the all-star winger lit the lamp twice in the first five minutes of tonight's game to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead before the Jets knew what hit 'em.
"He does everything out there," Reinhart said. "He's even creating out there on the penalty kill. He's so good at both ends of the ice, so that allows him to showcase his skills on a nightly basis. I've just been impressed with the overall consistency that he has."

Extending his career-long point streak to 13 games, Huberdeau has produced 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) during that epic and ongoing run. Also in contention for the Art Ross Trophy, his career-high 108 points are just two behind Edmonton's Connor McDavid for first in the NHL.
With his two goals, Huberdeau also achieved the second 30-goal campaign of his career.

2. GIROUXBERDEAU

"Girouxberdeau" is just getting started.
Earning the primary helper on both of Huberdeau's goals, Giroux registered his sixth multi-point game since joining the Panthers. Producing at better than a point-per-game pace since coming over from the Flyers, he's tallied 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 12 games since the move.
Of his 13 assists with the Panthers, four have been on goals for Huberdeau.

"I didn't think they forced things to each other," Brunette said of the duo. "I think they just read off each other really well. It was really nice to see them get a couple goals there together."
Dynamite when it comes to dominating the possession battle, the line of Huberdeau, Giroux and Sam Bennett was firing on all cylinders against Winnipeg. Over the 11:04 they spent together at 5-on-5, the Cats led 18-8 in shot attempts and 14-3 in shots on goal, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
"They're a deadly combo," Reinhart said.

3. GUS GETS TWO

Hop on the bus, Gus!
Showing off his scoring touch, Forsling extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second period when he flew out of the penalty box and beat Hellebuyck with a beauty of a backhand shot.
Earning his second multi-goal game this month, he then made it 4-0 later in the period.

"It's fun to see him score," Brunette said. "Hopefully he keeps going because he really has a great ability to put himself in wonderful positions to score goals."
And the goals have certainly been coming as of late.
Of his career-high eight goals this season, six have been scored in the last eight games. Picking up right where he left off during his breakout campaign in 2020-21, Forsling has already set new career-bests in both assists (26) and points (34) while also playing stout defense every contest.
"It's fun to score," he said. "I want to keep doing that, for sure."

4. MARCHY MAKES IT FIVE

Thanks to Marchment, fans got to enjoy "Mambo No. 5" once again.
Netting the fifth goal of the night for the Panthers, the man they call "Mush" kicked the puck up to his stick and sent a shot past Comrie to make it 5-1 in the third period. With the puck getting caught in the net, it took everyone in the building a few seconds to realize what had happened.
But after a unified realization, both cheers and Lou Bega's classic tune filled the arena.

One of several players enjoying breakout seasons on the Panthers, Marchment has already set new career-highs in goals (16), assists (25) and points (41). Also strong in the possession game, the Jets mustered just four shot attempts over the 11:04 he was deployed at 5-on-5.

5. BOB'S MILESTONE

It was finally the goalie's turn to take home a milestone puck.
Setting a new franchise record with his 36th win of the season, Bobrovsky turned aside 30 of 31 shots against the Jets, including going a perfect 7-for-7 on shots fired from high-danger areas.

"I thought he was rock solid," Brunette said. "He was dialed in and played exceptionally well tonight. He's had a great season. I know the last little bit he'd probably like to have a few of those games back, but his work as a whole has been pretty impressive."
Owning a 36-6-3 record with a .912 save percentage, Bobrovsky said he didn't even know he'd made history until someone wanted to commemorate the occasion after the game had ended.
"I found out after the game when they gave me a puck," he smiled.
Lights out on home ice, Bobrovsky has gone 24-3-0 at FLA Live Arena this season.