Panthers take disappointing 4-3 loss to Mammoth

"Florida drew the game's first power play, but former Panther Kevin Stenlund pressured Uvis Balinskis into a giveaway and Nick Schmaltz took off on a breakway, lifting a backhand shot over Sergei Bobrovsky to open the scoring with 4:14 left in the first period. Sandis Vilmanis would notch his first NHL goal by beating Vitek Vanecek from the middle of the slot following a ghastly turnover by Ian Cole to tie the tilt 2:52 into the middle frame."

"Unfortunately, the Cats failed to build momentum as Sean Durzi put the Mammoth back on top 54 seconds later. Brad Marchand was foiled at the Utah blue line and the visitors went the other way. Michael Carcone centered out to Jack McBain from the left corner and he patiently waited for Durzi to open up before feeding him in the slot for a successful wrister with Bobrovsky completely out of position."

"Durzi would pick up his second point of the night when his shot from the right point deflected in off Mikhail Sergachev, with Lawson Crouse providing a screen, to give the Mammoth its third lead of the night at 11:05 of the third. Barrett Hayton would provide the clincher, which turned into the game-winner, with a empty-netter with 56 ticks left on the clock to put the Mammoth up by two."

The Florida Panthers returned home and fell 4-3 to the Utah Mammoth at Amerant Bank Arena. Nick Schmaltz opened the scoring after a Florida giveaway, and Sandis Vilmanis added his first NHL goal to tie the game. Sean Durzi then put Utah back ahead on a play set up by Jack McBain and Michael Carcone. Cole Schwindt tied it later, but Durzi's deflected point shot restored the lead. Barrett Hayton added an empty-net goal, and Carter Verhaeghe's late tally proved too late. The loss leaves the Panthers six points out of a playoff spot.

Read at Litter Box Cats