5 Takeaways: Huberdeau's Heroics Lift Panthers to 3rd Straight Victory

SUNRISE, Fla. - Jonathan Huberdeau scored with 8.9 seconds remaining to lift the Florida Panthers a 3-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings at BB&T Center on Saturday night.
"We found a way to win," Panthers coach Bob Boughner said.

With time ticking down, Keith Yandle fired a slap shot towards Detroit's net, with Huberdeau, who was jockeying for position at the top of the crease, burying the impending rebound past goaltender Petr Mrazek to give Florida the lead late.
The goal was reviewed for goaltender interference -- prompting the crowd to break out in a raucous "Goal! Goal! Goal" chant - but was eventually upheld.
"The atmosphere was great tonight," said Huberdeau, who is tied for first on the Panthers with 18 goals. "Even the chant - 'Go, Panthers, go!' - helped us a lot in the third period. It just got us going."

Boughner said he was confident the call was going to stand.
"We've had some go against us, but in my view, looking down, he started outside the blue he got pushed in a little bit by their D," Boughner said. "I'm thinking, at the end of the day, that's kind of what affect their call.
"There was some goalie contact, but I think it was more form incidental contact. That's what I was thinking. I was crossing my fingers that's what they thought, too."
The Panthers (22-22-6) remain undefeated coming out of the All-Star break, pulling within seven points of the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with their third straight victory.
"We've just got to get on a roll," Huberdeau said. "That's what we need to have a chance to make the playoffs. I think we've just got to keep going. We have a day off tomorrow and then come back Monday ready to work."
Here are five takeaways from Saturday's win in Sunrise…

1. CRISIS AVERTED

Well, that was a close one. The Panthers narrowly avoided a little bit of déjà vu on Saturday night, as goalie Harri Sateri came up big to stone Tomas Tatar on a breakaway just 37 seconds into the contest. If you recall, less than a month ago during their last meeting on Jan. 5 in the Motor City, the Red Wings jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after speedy winger Adreas Anthanasiou found the back of the net just 42 seconds after puck drop. This time, however, the save was made, giving Florida an early momentum boost. "He saved us," Huberdeau said. "That was a huge save to start the game. It changed the game. It was still 0-0, instead of being down. He's been great for us. I'm glad he got another win."

2. SAVE-TERI

That first-period save was just one of 26 Sateri had to make to earn his third consecutive win on Saturday night. The 28-year-old Finn continues to be an absolute savior in net for the injury-plagued Panthers, going 3-1-0 over his last four starts after beginning the season as the team's third-string goalie. "I felt good," Sateri said. "It feels good to get a win again." Boughner said on Saturday morning that the team's No. 1 and No. 2 options in net - Roberto Luongo and James Reimer - are both close to coming off injured reserve and could return to practice as early as Monday. Luongo has been out with a lower-body injury since Dec. 4, while Reimer hasn't played since a groin injury knocked him out of the lineup on Jan. 23. Until then, the team is likely to continue rolling with Sateri's hot glove. "A huge goal at the end and two points, that's what matters," Sateri said.

3. EK IT OUT

You done messed up, A-Aron! Aaron Ekblad scored his 10th goal of the season on Saturday night, cutting through a pair of Red Wings defensemen into the slot before sending a backhand over Mrazek's shoulder to put the Panthers up 1-0 at 3:14 of the first period - his fourth goal in his last nine games. Ekblad, 21, is one of just four NHL defensemen with 10-or-more goals this season, joining Shayne Gostisbehere (10), Zach Werenski (11) and P.K. Subban (13). A top-pairing defenseman, Ekblad also ranks first in goals (10), shots (135) among Florida's blue liners, while also sitting second in points (17). "We're rolling," Ekblad said. "The consistency's there. We've got to keep our compete up, keep battling and we're going to be fine."

4. SASHA THE SNIPER

There's no question that Aleksander Barkov is one of the best playmakers in the NHL, but a preference for passing doesn't mean he can't let it rip when he needs to. The All-Star center showed off his shot on Saturday night, firing a laser under Mrazek's arm and into the net to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead at 13:38 of the second period. Barkov, who played in his 300th NHL game on Thursday in Buffalo, ranks third on the Panthers with 45 points (16-29-45) in 49 games this season, including 12 points (5-7-12) over his last 12 games.

5. DeKEYSER DOUBLES UP

All of Detroit's offense came from the blue line on Saturday night, as defenseman Danny DeKeyser potted a pair of goals. Not known for his production in the goal-scoring department, DeKeyser entered tonight's matchup with just two goals in 33 games this season. With two more against the Panthers, he matched the four he scored in 82 games last season. While the second goal was a bit chaotic, the 27-year-old's first goal was probably one of the prettiest of his six-year career. After receiving a pass in the slot, DeKeyser fired a top-shelf shot over Sateri's shoulder, tying the game at 1 at 8:51 of the second period. You can watch the goal HERE.