Panthers 3, Capitals 2 (SO)
Tomas Kopecky scored the decisive goal in the 10th round of the shootout as host Florida recorded its fourth win in five games.
Defenseman Dylan Olsen tallied to extend his point streak to five games and rookie Aleksander Barkov added his fifth goal for the Panthers, who won for the first time in nine meetings with Washington. Scott Clemmensen stopped 23 shots and helped keep the Capitals at bay over the final six rounds of the shootout before Kopecky ended the contest.
Nicklas Backstrom recorded a goal and an assist and Joel Ward snapped a 12-game goalless drought for the Capitals, who fell to 7-3 in the bonus format. Philipp Grubauer made 39 saves in regulation and overtime.
Olsen sneaked down the left side and fired a wrist shot top shelf to open the scoring 2:13 into the second period. Florida defenseman Erik Gudbranson was assessed a match penalty with 3:44 remaining in the session for delivering a head shot on Eric Fehr, who left the game but returned in time to open the shootout with a wrist shot that fooled Clemmensen.
Backstrom got Washington on the board with a shot from the slot during 4-on-4 play 18 seconds after Gudbranson’s hit, but Barkov capitalized on a turnover by Capitals defenseman Mike Green 1:22 later to regain the lead for Florida. Ward jammed a loose puck over the goal line during a power play in the final minute of the second to knot the contest.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Olsen has collected three goals and three assists during his point streak. … Florida D Brian Campbell led all skaters with 33:17 of ice time, marking the second consecutive time he has played more than 30 minutes. … Backstrom, Mikhail Grabovski, Jonathan Huberdeau, Brad Boyes and Nick Bjugstad also scored in the bonus format.