Panthers hold off Flyers for fourth win in a row
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Goalie James Reimer came within less than eight minutes of his second consecutive shutout as the Florida Panthers won their fourth straight game, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Thursday night at the BB&T Center.
Reimer made 29 saves to lead Florida (16-16-5). Reimer, who made his 10th straight start in place of injured starter Roberto Luongo, has allowed just seven goals in his past four appearances.
In a span that stretched over parts of three games, Reimer went 121:54 without allowing a goal.
Jared McCann, Derek MacKenzie and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Panthers, and Nick Bjugstad picked up two assists. Huberdeau has 13 goals -- one away from Vincent Trocheck's team lead.
The Flyers (15-14-8) have lost four of their past five games, and goalie Brian Elliott (24 saves) took the loss while making his 12th straight start.
Both teams went 0 of 4 on the power play.
In fact, Florida squandered a five-on-threet power play in the first few minutes of the game but salvaged the opening period on McCann's fifth goal of the season, a wrist shot from the high slot.
The Panthers made it 2-0 with 9:19 expired in the second period on MacKenzie's short-handed goal. Colton Sceviour pounced on a loose puck and tossed a cross-ice pass to MacKenzie, who scored on a one-timer.
It was the first goal of the season for MacKenzie, the veteran team captain who primarily plays a checking role on Florida's fourth line.
Four minutes later, Huberdeau gave Florida a 3-0 lead on a shot that appeared to deflect off the stick of Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas, landing in the net just above Elliott's right shoulder.
Philadelphia's Scott Laughton scored his sixth goal of the season with just 7:32 left in the third period. The Flyers pulled their goalie late in the game, and the plan worked as Sean Couturier scored on a screened shot from the left circle with 2:02 remaining.
But the Flyers failed to get the tying goal, and the Panthers kept their win streak alive.
NOTES: Panthers D Ian McCoshen (upper-body injury) missed his third straight game. ... Panthers RW Radim Vrbata (illness) missed the game. ... Panthers C Jamie McGinn returned after missing two games because of an upper-body injury. ... Panthers C Vincent Trocheck played despite getting hit in the chest with a puck in Florida's previous game. ... Flyers backup G Michael Neuvirth is out with a leg injury. ... Flyers C Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, has two goals and five assists in 28 games. ... Philadelphia scratched D Mark Alt and C Jori Lehtera. ... Florida closes its four-game homestand on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. ... Philadelphia closes its four-game road trip on Friday at the Tampa Bay Lightning.