Skip to main content

Bobrovsky gets shutout, Panthers roll past NHL-leading Jets 5-0 to snap 2-game slide

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) defends a shot on the goal by Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Nov. 16, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/Associated Press) Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) defends a shot on the goal by Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Nov. 16, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/Associated Press)
Share
SUNRISE, Fla. -

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots for his 45th career shutout, Aleksander Barkov had a short-handed goal and two assists, and the Florida Panthers beat the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets 5-0 on Saturday night.

Sam Reinhart had three assists for Florida, which snapped a two-game slide and became the first team to take a five-goal lead on the Jets this season. Mackie Samoskevich,Evan Rodrigues,Nate Schmidt and Dmitry Kulikov also scored for the Atlantic Division leaders.

Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck came into the night with an NHL-best 1.92 goals-against average. It rose to 2.14 after the Panthers beat him five times on 31 shots, and he took the loss for just the second time in 14 games this season.

Reinhart now has points in 10 straight games, had his fourth three-point game of the season and his first three-assist game in the regular season since he had four against Columbus on Dec. 10, 2023.

Despite going 0-2-0 in Florida -- Winnipeg lost in Tampa Bay on Thursday -- a 15-3-0 record is, by far, the best start in team history. Since hockey returned to Winnipeg in 2011, no Jets team ever had more than 11 wins through a season's first 18 games.

For the Panthers, Samoskevich was back in the lineup after not playing Thursday in a loss to New Jersey and made immediate impact with the game's opening goal -- his third in his last seven games.

The teams play again Tuesday in Winnipeg.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Dwayne Johnson's US$200 million+ Christmas pic opens to US$34.1 million

Moviegoers were not exactly feeling the Christmas spirit this weekend, or at least what 'Red One' was offering. The big budget, star-driven action comedy with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans sold US$34.1 million in tickets in its first weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It easily topped a box office populated mostly by holdovers.

Doctors say RFK Jr.’s anti-Ozempic stance perpetuates stigma and misrepresents evidence

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to tackle high rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. They’re goals that many in the public health world find themselves agreeing with — despite fearing what else the infamous anti-vaccine activist may do in the post.

Stay Connected