SUNRISE — Saturday was not all fun and games for the Florida Panthers in a 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames.
Sure, there was plenty of fun in a day where Vladimir Tarasenko scored his first two goals with the Panthers and had a three-point day.
But losing Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues to potential injuries certainly cast a pall on the evening.
Ekblad was hurt late in the first when he and Tarasenko collided in a knee-on-knee hit at center ice. Ekblad appeared to injure his left knee.
Rodrigues had to be helped off after blocking a shot with his left ankle late in the second.
Coach Paul Maurice will update their situations following the game.
Aside from that, it was all smiles from the Panthers in an afternoon which started with a cuteness overload as players stood for the anthems with their children — including Gus Forsling and his newborn son.
After a scoreless first, Tarasenko made a nice play deep in the zone by intercepting a clearing pass from Jonathan Huberdeau and getting an easy one past Jacob Markstrom.
Calgary tied it on the power play in the second, only Sasha Barkov made it 2-1 a few seconds later.
Florida scored two more in the third to take a 4-1 lead into the third: Sam Bennett deflected a Forsling shot at 13:12 on a goal which needed video to confirm; Tarasenko ripped one from the right circle at 14:55.
In the third, Kevin Stenlund scores after Eetu Luostarinen makes a great defensive play on the penalty kill and that was about it for the Flames as Florida beats Calgary for the first time since ‘The Trade.’
1. Vladimir Tarasenko, Florida
2. Gus Forsling, Florida
3. Anthony Stolarz, Florida
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