Barkov, MacKenzie propel Panthers past Canucks
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Aleksander Barkov and Derek MacKenzie each produced a goal and an assist to lead the Florida Panthers to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night at the BB&T Center.
Florida (13-12-4) also got goals from Aaron Ekblad and an empty-netter by Vincent Trocheck. Goalie Roberto Luongo earned the win against his former team.
Vancouver (12-14-2) fell behind 3-0 but got third-period goals from ex-Panther Jack Skille and Daniel Sedin. Goalie Jacob Markstrom, another former Panther, took the loss.
The Panthers are 2-2-3 in the seven games since ownership fired coach Gerard Gallant, putting general manager Tom Rowe behind the bench. This was Rowe's first home win since the change.
On Ekblad's rebound goal, Jaromir Jagr earned an assist, giving him 1,883 career points. He needs four points to tie Mark Messier for second place on the all-time NHL list.
Florida opened the scoring. With just 2:22 expired in the first period, Seth Griffith made a wraparound pass to Barkov in the slot. Barkov converted for his sixth goal of the season and Griffith picked up just his second assist.
Paul Thompson, a 28-year-old career minor-leaguer, picked up his first NHL point when his second period shot was rebounded and put home by MacKenzie.
Ekblad's goal, his seventh of the season, came early in the third. Jagr and Barkov earned assists to give Florida a 3-0 lead.
Vancouver made its run after that. Skille's goal was his third of the season and also his third in two games. Sedin's goal, with 8:15 left in the third period, came on a power play after Thompson was penalized for slashing.
It was Sedin's ninth goal of the season, but the Canucks couldn't get any closer.
NOTES: Panthers D Keith Yandle played in his 580th consecutive game, tying Johnny Wilson for ninth place on the all-time NHL list. The longest games-played streak in NHL history is 964 set by Doug Jarvis, now a Canucks' assistant coach. Among active players, Yandle is second behind Anaheim Ducks LW Andrew Cogliano. ... Panthers RW Jonathan Marchessault (groin) should be back in about three days, Florida GM/interim coach Tom Rowe said. ... Rowe said D Aaron Ekblad and C Aleksander Barkov will see their minutes go up in his coaching tenure. ... Florida scratched C Denis Malgin and D Jakub Kindl. ... Canucks G Ryan Miller (lower body) sat out. ... Vancouver recalled rookie G Thatcher Demko to serve as Jacob Markstrom's backup. This was Demko's first day in the NHL. But with Miller's contract expiring after this season, Demko could be up to stay starting next year. ... Vancouver scratched C Joseph Labate and D Andrey Pedan.