Panthers 4, Jets 1
Panthers 4, Jets 1: Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season on a penalty shot as host Florida won for the second time in its last seven games.
Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien hooked Huberdeau’s hands on a breakaway with five minutes remaining in the second period and the third overall pick in 2011 made no mistake with a wrist shot over the glove of Ondrej Pavelec.
Tomas Kopecky, Shawn Matthias and Mike Santorelli also scored for the Panthers, who recovered from losing both games of a home-and-home set against Carolina on the weekend. Rookie netminder Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves for his first win in three starts this season.
Kyle Wellwood had the lone goal for the Jets, who dropped to 3-4-0 against Southeast Division opponents this season. Pavelec stopped 22 shots.
Tomas Fleischmann added two assists for Florida and leads the team with 17 points. Defenseman Brian Campbell earned his seventh point in the last five games when he was credited with setting up Santorelli’s third-period insurance goal.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Florida veteran Stephen Weiss, who will undergo wrist surgery next week, is sidelined for the remainder of the season. ... The Jets return to BB&T Center on Friday after visiting Tampa Bay as part of a four-game road trip. Winnipeg is 6-5-1 in away games this season. … Wellwood and Santorelli recorded their respective first goals of the season. … The Panthers are 5-1-3 when Huberdeau records a point.