Trailing by three heading to the third period, the Florida Panthers struck for four 
unanswered goals on Tuesday, in Sunrise, for a dramatic 5-4 win over the visiting Washington Capitals.
Sam Reinhart hit for the game-winner with just under 15 seconds left in regulation, the goal came off the power play.
“It feels great,” Reinhart said. “To be able to complete that comeback in regulation, it was a great win for us.”
The Panthers launched 27 shots on goal in the third period, 51 for the game.
Washington was limited to two shots in the third period.
“It was work,” Washington head coach Peter Laviolette said. “There is nothing else I can say. We stopped working. They worked hard. We stopped working and that is how you get outshot.”
Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for the Florida win.
Florida improved to 15-4-3.
The Caps took a 2-0 lead in the opening period off goals from Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn; the strikes came just 11 seconds apart.
“It shouldn’t happen,” Eller said. “We even addressed it before going out for the third. Not good enough. … We didn’t execute. We kept playing a little slow and poor execution. We were behind, second to pucks, and we get penalties and they get the momentum.”
Joe Thornton scored to give the Panthers some life.
Lars Eller added a third goal for the Caps to lead 3-1 headed to the middle frame.
Nick Jensen scored in the period for Washington to give them a seemingly untouchable 4-1 lead.
The dropped to 14-4-5.
The third period was not what the Caps had in mind.
Ryan Lomberg and Eetu Luostarinen (shorthanded) struck to start the third period rally to get the Panthers within one.
“There’s always a belief in that room that we’re never out of the fight,” Lomberg said. “As soon as the first domino fell, we just kept our foot on the gas, and here we are.”
Sam Bennett tied the game, 4-4, off the power play.
“I was really happy for the power play,” Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think they’ve really put a lot of pressure on themselves to make a difference. It was fun to see them get a couple, and obviously the shorthanded (goal) was huge.”
The Panthers were 2-for-4 with the extra man.
“For a majority of the game we played pretty well,” Lomberg said. “They were just getting the bounces. It was good of our group to just stick with it.”
Ilya Samsonov made saves 46
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