5 Takeaways: Ekblad leads Panthers to OT victory over Vegas

SUNRISE, Fla. - The Florida Panthers, rested and recharged, looked like a team on a mission coming out of their league-mandated bye week, defeating the Las Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in overtime at BB&T Center on Friday night.

"That was a big win for us against a pretty good team that has been pretty good this season," Panthers center Aleksander Barkov said. "We beat them, so we've got a lot of confidence right now. I know it's only one game, but it was a big statement."
Aaron Ekblad scored the game-winning goal just 40 seconds into the extra frame, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot before firing a shot past Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban to secure the franchise's first win against Vegas.
The Knights defeated the Panthers, 5-2, in Vegas on Dec. 17. "We had some unfinished business with these guys," said Ekblad, who leads all Panthers defensemen with eight goals. "We capitalized on our opportunities."

Barkov, Jamie McGinn and Evgenii Dadonov also scored for the Panthers (19-19-6), who have won two out of three after losing three straight.
With 38 games remaining in their season and some ground to make up in the standings, Ekblad said Friday's victory is just the first win in several five-game segments the team will need conquer from here on out.
"It's building momentum," Ekblad said." We like to play in five-game segments and try and get as many points as we can in those five-game segments. It's a great start to that five-game segment."
Here are five takeaways from Friday's win in Sunrise …

1. SHORTY SEASON

This is starting to get a little out of hand. Barkov, the shorthanded king of South Florida, scored his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season on Friday night, moving into a tie with Pavel Bure for the second-most shorthanded goals in a season in franchise history. With one more, he'll move into a tie with Tom Fitzgerald for the top spot. So how did Barkov's latest shorty come to be? Well, it all started with a nice poke check from Vincent Trocheck along the boards near the blue line, which led to a 2-on-1 break for Florida. Carrying the puck up the ice with Barkov on his left, Trocheck elected to shoot rather than pass, and although Subban made the initial save, Barkov was there to bang home the rebound to put the Panthers up 2-1 at 15:55 of the first period. Florida's representative at this year's All-Star Game, Barkov ranks third on the Panthers in goals (15) and second in points (43). "He's dangerous 5-on-5, and obviously shorthanded as well," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said. "Huge goal. He was the best player on the ice tonight. That line was going." Florida leads the league with nine shorthanded goals this season - two more than the next highest team.

2. McGINN IS MIGHTY

With fresh legs on their side, the Panthers expected to come out strong against Vegas, and thanks to McGinn they did. McGinn opened the scoring on Friday night, grabbing a loose puck in the slot and sneaking a backhand past Subban to put the Panthers up 1-0 at 3:15 of the first period. The timely goal ended a nine-game point drought for McGinn. In his first season with the Panthers, the 29-year-old winger has tallied six goals and eight assists in 41 games. "These last three games have probably been some of his best hockey of the year," Boughner said. "He's playing tough and playing physical. It's nice to see him get paid off for that."

3. EVGEN-III

After a two-goal performance against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 12, Boughner said he expected forward Dadonov to "take off" after the break. Nice call, Bob. With the game tied at 2 early in the third period, Dadonov converted on a big rebound after Barkov's shot deflected off Subban's glove to put the Panthers up 3-2 with 16:25 left in regulation. The goal was Dadonov's third in two games and extended his point streak to five contests. The 28-year-old winger ranks fourth on the team in both goals (10) and points (27) in 36 games, with eight of those points coming on the power play. "He's been good the whole season," Barkov said. "He just had bad luck a couple games. He couldn't score from anywhere. Now, he's got the monkey off his back. He feels confident and he can help us with the goals now."

4. NO RUST FOR REIMER

There was likely no player that benefited more from a week-long break than James Reimer. Florida's backup goaltender made his 17th consecutive start on Friday night, stopping 33 of 36 shots. "Vegas is a pretty good team, they had their chances, too," Barkov said. "Reims saved us." With the victory, Reimer improved to 8-6-2 since starter Roberto Luongo was knocked out of the lineup with a lower-body injury on Dec. 4, posting a 2.56 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage during that span. After starting both games in Florida's last three sets of back-to-backs, Boughner said after Thursday's practice that there is a chance that Reimer might get even more rest soon, as backup Harri Sateri could make his first NHL start on Saturday in Nashville. Luongo isn't expected to return until at least early February.

5. HUIZENGA HONORED

The Panthers honored franchise founder and original owner H. Wayne Huizenga by retiring the No. 37 -- his lucky number and birth year - during a special pre-game ceremony on Friday night. Huizenga is responsible for bringing hockey to South Florida, owning the team from its inaugural season in 1993-94 until 2000-01. Under Huizenga, the Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 1995-96 - the first of four postseason berths in the franchise's history. "I call it the golden era of the franchise," Panthers President & CEO Matthew Caldwell said. "The Violas purchasing the team is really a rebirth of that Florida Panther franchise. We're just trying to carry the legacy." Huizenga joins Bill Torrey, the franchise's first president and current alternate governor, as the only two people to have a number retired in the franchise's 24-year history. For Torrey, the Panthers raised No. 93 into the rafters, in honor of the team's first season. "This is a special night," Torrey told the crowd.