Takeaways: Panthers enter All-Star Break Winners of Last Four, Defeat Islanders 3-2 in Overtime

Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored the overtime winner as the Florida Panthers defeated the New York Islanders 3-2 on Long Island in their final game before the NHL All-Star break.

The Panthers have won four-straight games and improved to a franchise best eight consecutive road wins following Saturday night’s contest. 

Panthers backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz had 21 saves in his eighth win of the season .

“I just want to be someone the team can count on when my name is called,” Stolarz said post game. “I’ll be  able to go out there and give an honest effort.”

Florida enters the All-Star break second in the Eastern Conference with a 31-14-4 record.

Here’s Saturday night’s takeaways.

Sam Reinhart scores again, sets Panthers power play record 

It’s pretty much a nightly occurrence to see Sam Reinhart’s name in the scoresheet. 

The Panthers’ leading scorer has already broken numerous career accolades this season and on 

Reinhart kept his name near the top of the NHL leaderboards on Saturday, scoring his 37th goal of the season 7:56 into the second period. 

On what was his 20th power-play goal of the season, Reinhart moved into sole possession of the Panthers’ single season power-play goal record. He tied the record the previous night in Pittsburgh. 

“It’s been pretty fun,” Reinhart said when asked about his recent play. “Our power play came up really big tonight. Back-to-back [games], not much jump, that’s an important couple of goals to get. ”

Reinhart also extended his point streak to 13 games — moving him into a tie for second-longest in Panthers history. 

He has 62 points in 49 games. 

Special teams victory leads to another win

Just one night after killing off seven consecutive penalties en route to a shootout victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Panthers special teams play led them to victory again. 

The Panthers went 2/4 on the power play Saturday night and were a perfect 1/1 on the penalty kill. 

Florida’s PK is 14/16 in their last three games. 

Over the four-game win streak, the Panthers have scored at least once on the power play.

Matthew Tkachuk another multi-point night 

While Sam Reinhart has been on a heater all season, Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t been too far off his teammate in 2024. 

Tkachuk had two-points against the Islanders for his 14th multi-point game of the season and sixth in the month of January  

Tkachuk scored his 16th goal of the season 5:59 into the third to put the Panthers up 2-1. 

He also picked up the primary assist on Reinhart’s goal in the second period. 

Tkachuk has 51 points in 49 games — 24 of those coming in January (13 goals, 11 assists). 

Panthers Notes

Paul Maurice reunited Sam Reinhart with Aleksamder Barkov and Evan Rodrigues in the second period. Mackie Samoskevich moved onto a line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

Sam Reinhart and Sergei Bobrovsky will represent the Panthers next week at the NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.

Florida’s next game will be at home, Feb. 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers