5 TAKEAWAYS: Panthers 4, Devils 2

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Ending their seven-game homestand with an exclamation point, the Florida Panthers erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to secure a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.
Improving to 35-27-7, the Panthers now trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by just one point for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. They also trail the New York Islanders by three points for the first wild card, but also have two games in hand.
"This is the most fun time to play," forward Sam Reinhart said. "The atmosphere tonight, you could sense it right from the start. The fans know what position we're in. We're enjoying the battle. It was nice to get that win] on home ice."
For a quick recap of the game, click
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To read up on five key takeaways for the Cats, continue below.

1. THE BLUEPRINT

The Panthers played nearly a perfect first period against New Jersey.
Despite not being rewarded with a goal, they looked dominant at both ends of the ice. They were fast, physical and on top of every single puck. With all four lines clicking, that pressure didn't let up no matter which trio hopped over the boards during the entire opening 20 minutes of action.
"We had a [heck] of a first," forward Matthew Tkachuk said.
Laying out a blueprint for future success, the Panthers led 25-16 in shot attempts, 16-10 in shots on goal, 13-4 in scoring chances and 8-1 in high-danger shot attempts at 5-on-5 in the first period.
Backed by those numbers, Florida registered 1.48 expected goals.
"We probably were as good structurally and execution-wise in the first period as we've been all year," head coach Paul Maurice said. "That was a [heck] of a first period."

2. BARKOV BREAKS THE ICE

The Panthers knew it was only a matter of time until they eventually broke through.
Finally turning expected goals into actual goals, the Panthers got on the board and cut their deficit in half when Aleksander Barkov sent a loose puck past Akira Schmid from just outside the blue paint to make it a 2-1 game at 6:14 of the third period and ignite the comeback.

"The first one relaxed the entire bench," Maurice said. "You look up, there's 13 minutes on the clock, and you're going, 'OK, it's on now.'"
Always leading by example, Barkov extended his point streak to six games with that goal. Heating up at the perfect time, the captain has produced 10 points (two goals, eight assists) during that torrid stretch. With an assist later in the period, he also inched closer to history.
Finishing with two points against the Devils, Barkov moved into a tie with Jonathan Huberdeau for first place on the franchise's all-time points leaderboard with the 613th point of his career.
"It means a lot," said Barkov, who was selected by the Panthers with the second-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. "I was drafted by this organization. I've been playing here for 10 years and would love to play here forever. It means a lot to me. I really appreciate every day I spend here."
In 55 games this season, Barkov has notched 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists).

3. REINHART ON A ROLL

Less than two minutes after Barkov broke the ice, Reinhart followed suit.
Extending his goal streak to four games, the high-scoring forward tied things up for the Panthers when he skated straight into the slot, extended his stick and deftly re-directed a point shot from Brandon Montour into the twine on the power play to make it 2-2 at 7:54.

"A night like that, a period like that, is so important for the confidence," said Reinhart, who cashed in on an empty net later in the period for his second goal of the game. "Just to know that we still have it and are capable of putting the puck in the net when we are playing the right way. We really didn't do anything special in the third. We were just able to capitalize."
After netting a career-high 33 goals in 2021-22, Reinhart has picked up right where left off this season. In addition to ranking third on the Panthers with 26 goals, he also sits tied for first on the team in power-play goals with 12, including three during his four-game goal streak.
"There's really one goal in mind at this point, and that's to get [to the playoffs]," Reinhart said. "We know more than anyone that anything can happen. We're excited about that challenge."

4. TKACHUK IT OUT

Tkachuk took his celebration to the next level after this goal.
Capping off a three-goal surge for the Panthers in a span of just 2:30 during the third period, Tkachuk added a clip to his personal highlight reel when he took a pass from Carter Verhaeghe -- an eye-popping feed through two defenders -- before burying a backhand shot to make it 3-2 at 8:44.
Mobbed by his teammates after the goal, Tkachuk was absolutely roaring.

"Probably the most excited I've been this year after one of my goals," he said.
And Verhaeghe's pass?
"It was sick -- backhand and right on my tape," Tkachuk said. "It allowed me to have kind of a mini breakaway there. He kind of brought two guys to him. His passing is very underrated."
Tied for fourth in the NHL with 92 points (32 goals, 60 assists), Tkachuk has piled up 11 points (four goals, seven assists) over his last four games. Trying to become just the second player in franchise history to record 100 points, he's earned at least one point in 17 of his last 23 games.
"It's all about stringing together wins from now on," Tkachuk said. "I guess we're kind of scoreboard watching, but at the end of the day you have to take care of your own business."

5. BIG SAVES FOR BOBROVSKY

If not for some bad luck, Bobrovsky could've been in line for a shutout.
After giving up two goals in the second period -- one on a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush and the other after an unlucky bounce -- the two-time Vezina Trophy winner simply shut the door on the Devils in the third period by stopping all 12 shots he faced, including making two saves with his mask.
Of his 33 saves in the win, six were considered high-danger.
"He was amazing with keeping us in the game and allowing us to start to build momentum from a few of his saves," Tkachuk said. "He made some amazing saves in the third."
Starting each of the last 12 games, Bobrovsky has posted an 8-3-1 record while managing that heavy workload. Playing some of his best hockey in a Panthers uniform over the past few months, he's posted a strong 16-6-2 record with a .911 save percentage over his last 25 appearances.
Since Jan. 1, Bobrovsky owns a .924 save percentage at even strength.
"He was really strong in net again for us," Reinhart said.
\All advanced statistics courtesy of NaturalStatTrick.com*