Panthers dismantle Jets, snapping their 4-1-1 start with 5-1 rout
Carter Verhaeghe scored twice as Florida’s power play generated three goals, leaving Winnipeg with just one win in its last seven games.
By David Almasi ·
The Winnipeg Jets lost their sixth straight game on Tuesday night when the Florida Panthers overwhelmed them 5-1 at the MTS Centre.
Florida’s special teams dictated the flow of the contest. The Panthers scored three times on the power play, converting three of five opportunities. That performance brought their total to 13 power-play goals in their last eight games. Winnipeg’s man advantage has gone 0 for 14 over its last five contests and 2 for 18 at home this season.
Carter Verhaeghe led the way for the visitors with two goals. Matthew Tkachuk recorded four assists, while his brother Brady added a goal and two assists. Niko Mikkola contributed a goal and an assist, and Sam Reinhart scored the fifth. Seth Jones tallied three assists for Winnipeg.
Akira Schmid stopped 24 shots to earn his fourth win in five starts for Florida. Clay Stevenson made 19 saves for Winnipeg. Adam Lowry provided the only Jets goal, his second of the season and first while short-handed.
The Panthers took a 3-0 lead by the 10:18 mark of the first period. Reinhart one-timed a pass from Brady Tkachuk under the crossbar for the third power-play goal, extending the deficit. Winnipeg has scored more than three goals just once this season, a 5-2 win over Minnesota on Oct. 13. The Tkachuk brothers have combined for 35 points in the team’s first 13 games. Florida salvaged its four-game road trip with two wins after losing the first two. The Jets host Tampa Bay on Thursday and return to Florida on Friday.
The loss ends Winnipeg’s 4-1-1 start to the season.
