Jesper Boqvist Scores Twice, Panthers End 2024 With Win Over Rangers

SUNRISE — For obvious reasons, 2024 was a fantastic year for the Florida Panthers. Monday night’s 5-3 win against the New York Rangers won’t have the same joy as the franchise’s first Stanley Cup — which they won in June — but the team will be happy to end such a historic year on a high note.

“It’s a good way to end the year,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “We’ve had a spectacular and memorable year and it’s nice that our fans in the building tonight get to go home happier than the other team’s fans.”

Jesper Boqvist had two goals, including the game winner, and the Panthers snapped a two-game losing streak as they moved back to first in the Atlantic Division in their final game of the calendar year.

Sergei Bobrovsky had 33 saves in his 17th win of the season, while the Panthers improved to 23-13-2.

Igor Shesterkin let in four goals on 21 shots as the Rangers dropped their fourth consecutive game. Last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners are just one point from dead last in the East as the year comes to an end.

After being shutout in each of their past two games, Florida came out of the gates hungry for offense, putting two past Rangers goaltender Igor Sheterkin just 5:21 into the first.

Eetu Luostarinen got the scoring started 3:04 into the game, after redirecting Gustav Forsling’s shot past Igor Shesterkin for his sixth goal of the season.

“We talked about being more net-front and getting more pucks [on net],” Luostarinen said. I think we did a good job.”

Mackie Samoskevich found himself in the right place at the right time, as Dmitry Kulikov’s point shot grazed off him and into the net. The rookie doubled the Panthers lead with his seventh goal of the season.

Following Florida’s dominant first period, the Rangers found much needed life in the second, scoring two unanswered goals of their own in quick succession.

Filip Chytil got the Rangers on the board 14:25 into the middle frame, beating Sergei Bobrovsky five-hole for his seventh goal of the season.

New York tied the game less than two minutes later after Adam Fox fed a backdoor pass to  Ryan Lindgren, who easily put away his second goal of the season.

The Rangers tilted the game in their favor with the two quick goals, but the high was short lived, as Jesper Boqvist reclaimed the Panthers lead 38 seconds after Lindgren’s goal.

In the third, the Rangers once again tied the game, with Chris Kreider getting his 12th of the season with a powerplay google  from the slot on the power play goal from the slot.

Jesper Boqvist said the team discussed getting to the net more over the past few days. As he did on his first goal, the 26-year-old once again got to the front of the Rangers cage and put away his second goal of the game, with his brother Adam getting the primary assist.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true again,” Jesper Boqvist said. “ We are living the dream here and having a lot of fun. We are super thankful.”

Jesper’s two goals on Monday was only the second multi-goal game of his career, with the other coming back on March 5, 2023 when he was with the New Jersey Devils.

After a successful penalty kill in the final 2:50 in the game, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov sealed away the victory with an empty netter.

The Panthers will be back in action on Thursday night, in the new year, at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.