Tkachuk scores 2 more goals, Panthers stay hot with 3-1 win over Sharks
Tkachuk scores 2 more goals, Panthers stay hot with 3-1 win over Sharks
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) defend the goal against San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72), left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, second from left, reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood puts on his helmet during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci (4) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) and San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The puck gets past San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) defend the goal against San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72), left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov (7) defend the goal against San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72), left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, second from left, reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, second from left, reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood puts on his helmet during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood puts on his helmet during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci (4) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci (4) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) skates with the puck as San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) passes the puck as Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) and San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) and San Jose Sharks center Mikael Granlund (64) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The puck gets past San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The puck gets past San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for his fourth consecutive multi-point game, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots in his return to the lineup and the Florida Panthers beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday night.
It’s the fourth time Tkachuk has had multiple points in four straight games, his second such streak since joining the Panthers.
Aleksander Barkov also scored for Florida, which is 5-0-1 in its last six games. Bobrovsky was back after missing the Panthers’ two-game trip earlier in the week while he and his wife await the birth of a child.
The win was No. 408 of Bobrovsky’s career, breaking a tie with Glenn Hall for 11th-most in NHL history.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 50 shots for the Sharks, the third time in his career that he’s made that many saves. Tyler Toffoli scored with 1:26 left for San Jose to break up the shutout.
Takeaways
Sharks: San Jose probably couldn’t wait to get out of Florida. This visit to the Sunshine State — which started with an 8-1 loss at Tampa Bay on Thursday — was the fifth time in team history that the Sharks went 0-2-0 in the state.
Panthers: It was, by far, Florida’s highest shot output of the season. The Panthers finished with 53 shots; their previous season-high was 38 at Columbus on Oct. 15.
Key moment
San Jose’s Luke Kunin went in alone, short-handed, with about eight minutes left. Bobrovsky made the save on the glove side with no problem, protecting a 3-0 lead.
Key stat
Tkachuk had five goals in October and November combined. He has five in the first week of December alone.
Up next
San Jose’s six-game road trip continues at Carolina on Tuesday. The Panthers start a five-game road trip Tuesday in Seattle; they will visit Edmonton in a Stanley Cup Final rematch as part of the trip on Dec. 16.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL