Panthers pull away in 3rd, top Sharks for 5th straight win

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Florida Panthers scored three unanswered goals in the third period after giving up the lead to defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-3 and SAP Center on Tuesday.

Panthers Eetu Luostarinen (27) and Ryan Lomberg (94) check William Eklund (center) off the puck – Photo by Jack Lima

Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist to extend his multipoint streak to five games for the Panthers (10-4-1), who have won five in a row. Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe also had a goal and an assist, Matthew Tkachuk had two assists, and Anthony Stolarz made 19 saves.

“I think everyone’s stepping up,” Verhaeghe said. “Every win is kind of a total team win. Everyone is contributing in a different way.”

Mike Hoffman scored his first goal of the season for the Sharks (2-13-1), who have lost three straight. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves.

“There were a lot of good signs overall throughout the gam

Eetu Luostarinen (27) attempts to move the puck around Sharks defenseman Calen Addison (33) – Photo by Jack Lima

e,” San Jose coach David Quinn said. “But against a team of that caliber, you’ve got to make sure that you’re thorough in all areas for 60 minutes.”

Tomas Hertl tied it 2-2 at 6:11 of the third period when he redirected in a centering pass from Fabian Zetterlund on a power play.

Luke Kunin put San Jose ahead 3-2 during a delayed penalty at 7:21. He scored five-hole with a backhand after Mikael Granlund’s shot from the point caromed to him off the end boards.

Verhaeghe tied the game again 3-3 at 10:06 with a one-timer from the right circle on a power play.

Mikael Granlund (84) gives instructions to Danil Gushchin (75) prior to a face-off during a second period Sharks power play – Photo by Jack Lima

“We had the lead in the third period, and then we take a penalty (and) they take advantage of it,” Hoffman said. “We kept fighting and we never gave up. We got a couple of chances to tie it, but that wasn’t enough.”

Kevin Stenlund put Florida back in front 4-3 at 11:09 when he redirected a point shot from Uvis Balinskis five-hole on Blackwood.

“We know we can score at any time,” Stenlund said. “We’re confident. We’ve just got to keep working. We did that and we won.”

Mike Hoffman (center) celebrates his first period goal – Photo by Jack Lima

Sam Bennett appeared to extend the lead 38 seconds later, but Quinn successfully challenged the play for offside.

However, Barkov scored into an empty net at 17:47 for the 5-3 final.

Ryan Lomberg gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 12:34 of the first period, scoring blocker side from the top of the right circle following a turnover by Zetterlund.

Hoffman tied it 1-1 at 15:58 when he chipped in a rebound along the goal line.

Panthers goalie Anthony Stolarz stopped nineteen shots to earn the victory over the Sharks – Photo by Jack Lima

Reinhart responded for the Panthers on a power play to make 2-1 at 12:09 of the second period. He got to the rebound of Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s shot in the crease and scored with a backhand.

Reinhart has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) during his multipoint streak.

“I thought San Jose played a good game,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “You’re not going to get an easy game out of any team in the NHL when they play as hard as they did. We got a couple of bad breaks, I think, on that, (but) we didn’t change our game (in the third). We played the exact same game we had been playing five minutes before in part because we’re pretty confident with it.”

Ryan Lomberg (94) moves the puck past Fabian Zetterlund (20) – Photo by Jack Lima

NOTES: Reinhart has scored 12 goals this season, one behind Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets for the NHL lead. … Hertl’s goal was his 206th in the NHL, tying him with Owen Nolan for fifth in Sharks history.