Pro Sports

Panthers stun Stars 3-2 with late rally

Posted February 25, 2021 6:00 am

By PAUL GEREFFI

Florida Panthers center Frank Vatrano, center, celebrates with defenseman Anton Stralman (6) and center Alex Wennberg (21) after scoring the winning goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - Frank Vatrano scored the go-ahead goal with 3:10 remaining and the Florida Panthers stunned the Dallas Stars 3-2 with a late comeback Thursday night.

Aleksander Barkov and Anton Stralman also scored in the final 6 1/2 minutes as the Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit. Sergei Bobrovsky made 37 saves.

'œYou get one quick one, you get another one and luckily our line got that game-winner there at the end,'ť Vatrano said.

Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn had the goals for Dallas. Rookie netminder Jake Oettinger stopped 32 shots.

Florida scored three times in 3:11 after a nine-minute delay to repair a section of the boards.

Barkov poked in a loose puck that bounced behind Oettinger and sat in the paint near the goal line with 6:21 left. Stralman tied the score on a drive from the right circle. Vatrano put the Panthers ahead with a shot from the slot.

'œIt was just a matter of time before we scored and we got the lucky bounce,'ť Barkov said. 'œWe just needed one to get going and we opened up after that.'ť

Bobrovsky was able to keep the Stars off the scoreboard in the third period.

'œThe guys stepped up and it's a great win for us,'ť he said. 'œDown 2-0 and find a way to win the game. A big boost in the locker room, and puts the points in the bank.'ť

Pavelski scored the game's first goal 2:10 into the second period on a power play when he swept in the puck from the left side of the crease. Pavelski leads the Stars with 10 goals in 15 games.

John Klingberg's shot from the high slot was redirected by Benn into the net to make it 2-0 with 2:11 left in the second.

Dallas appeared to be coasting toward a victory until the delay.

'œWe had them in a good spot and were playing good hockey and we let them back,'ť Pavelski said. 'œAs we sat back and the game went on they found their momentum and we didn't answer. A tough loss.'ť

Stars coach Rick Bowness admitted the delay helped the Panthers but also blamed his defense.

'œWe just stopped defending. Simple as that,'ť Bowness said. 'œWe just sat back. That's why they're in first place and we're battling to get back in it.'ť

The Panthers, who lost 3-0 to Dallas on Wednesday, are 6-0-0 following a loss.

IRONMAN STREAK

Florida defenseman Keith Yandle played in his 885th consecutive regular-season game dating to March 26, 2009, passing Steve Larmer (1982'“93) for sole possession of the third-longest streak in NHL history.

ROSTER MOVES

Panthers D Radko Gudas was scratched with an upper-body injury. ... Florida recalled forward Mason Marchment and defenseman Kevin Connauton from the taxi squad. D Markus Nutivaara has been placed on injured reserve.

ATTENDANCE

A crowd of 3,844 was on hand. The Panthers cap attendance at 5,000.

___

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Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal as Dallas Stars left wing Joel Kiviranta (25) and Panthers left wing Mason Marchment (19) go for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Dallas Stars' Nick Caamano (17) and Florida Panthers left wing Ryan Lomberg, right, go for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Florida Panthers center Frank Vatrano (77) reacts after scoring the winning goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, right, falls against the boards after fighting for the puck with Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers right wing Patric Hornqvist (70) pursues during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Dallas Stars center Justin Dowling (37) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) pursues during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) shoots on Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski (16) goes for the puck as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) The Associated Press

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