Panthers Come Up Short in 2-1 Loss to Kraken

SUNRISE, Fla. — After the NHL paused for two weeks due to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Florida Panthers returned to action on Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken. 

With the game tied 7:03 into the third period, Jaren McCann scored the game winner with his 15th goal of the season, leading the Kraken to a 2-1 road victory.

Goaltender Joey Daccord stood on his head for the visitors, stopping 26 shots en route to his 20th win of the season. 

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 of 22 shots faced as the Panthers fell to 34-20-3 in the season.

Kappo Kakko also scored for the Kraken, opening the scoring 6:32 in the game after sneaking a tight angle shot under Bobrovsky’s near post for his 10th goal of the season. 

Eetu Luostarinen had the Panthers lone goal, picking up his eighth of the season after linking up with Anton Lundell. The duo combined for a similar goal last week when they played for Finland in the 4 Nations tournament. 

“Great play by Lundy,” Luostarinen said of the assist. “This time I [was the one] that scored.” 

Mackie Samoskevich appeared to have given the Panthers their first lead of the game after he roofed a shot top shelf. The Kraken challenged the play for goaltender interference as Evan Rodrigues was inside the crease.

Video review deemed that there was goaltender interference, with Rodrigues “going into the crease on his own.” The goal was overturned.

“They don’t give you explanations, I heard the explanation (from the official’s announcement),” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice responded when asked if he was given an answer for the goal coming back. “We can’t touch a goalie in the blue paint and I guess we did.” 

He added: “I’m not sure I would’ve challenged it. So he’s right and I’m wrong.”

The Panthers had a league-high eight players participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off, including three who played in Thursday’s Canada-USA title game: Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart (CAN) and Matthew Tkachuk (USA). 

Seven of the eight players who returned from international duty played on Saturday night for the Panthers, with Tkachuk (lower-body) being the one absentee. Paul Maurice said Saturday morning that Tkachuk is going to be evaluated on Sunday and Monday, “then we’ll have a real clear plan after that.”

The Panthers hit the road for one game to face the Nashville Predators on Tuesday Night. When they return, a 2024 Stanley Cup rematch against the Edmonton Oilers will welcome them on Thursday in Sunrise. 

GAME NOTES

Brandon Montour and Josh Mahura both made their return to Sunrise on Saturday night with the Kraken.

Montour played in 300 games (regular and postseason) across three-and-a-half seasons with the Panthers. The 30-year-old defenseman was a huge reason why the Panthers made back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, and eventually won in 2024.

Mahura, also a member of the 2024 Stanley Cup winning team, played in 112 regular season and 21 postseason games with the Panthers — appearing in every playoff game during the team’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.