Panthers overcome three-goal deficit to beat Caps
The Florida Panthers led Washington Capitals 3-0 but scored five no-answers to go away with a 5-3 win in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Wednesday night.
Florida’s Game 5 win gives them a 3-2 advantage in a best-of-seven series.
Washington’s TJ Oshie opened the scoring on Wednesday night, scoring a powerhouse goal at 7:09 in the first half.
A 1-0 lead in the second half, Justin Schultz’s 2:13 goal gave Washington a 2-0 lead. A minute later, Oshie scored his second goal of the game, at 3:38, to make it 3-0.
Close to the seventh minute of the second half, Florida was finally on the table when Carter Verhaeghe scored to take the Capitals’ lead 3-1. The Panthers continued to take the lead over Washington after Patric Hornqvist scored at 12:27 to make it 3-2. About two minutes later, Sam Reinhart put the Panthers back all the way, ending things with a goal at 14:41. The Panthers and Capitals entered the second half 3-3.
The Panthers wasted little time in the third inning, as Verhaeghe scored the second of the night at 3:04 of the third to put Florida ahead of the game. Verhaeghe had a five-point night, scoring two goals while adding three assists.
15:15, Claude Giroux scored the winning goal for the Panthers.
After a rough start, Florida goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky shot back and saved 30 of Washington’s 33 shots.
The Panthers will watch as the series wraps up and win tickets to the second round as they move to the Capitals in Washington for Game 6 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.