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Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3

Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrates with teammates after an NHL hockey game overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored extra-attacker goals in the final minutes to lead a furious comeback, Evan Rodrigues got the winning goal in the shootout and the Florida Panthers stunned the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-3 victory on Friday night.

Brad Marchand also scored for Florida, which trailed 3-0 midway through the third and still was down 3-1 with less than five minutes left. The NHL said it was the first time Florida won a game when down by three goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation.

With Sergei Bobrovsky being pulled for an extra attacker with about 4:40 left, Bennett scored quickly to make it 3-2 and Reinhart connected with 41.8 seconds left to knot the game at 3-3.

It was Florida’s second three-goal comeback in less than two weeks. The Panthers also rallied from three down to top Columbus 7-6 on Dec. 6.

Sebastian Aho scored two third-period goals for the second consecutive game for the Hurricanes, whose five-game winning streak was snapped. Jordan Staal also scored for Carolina.

Goaltender Brandon Bussi — who was in camp with the Panthers this fall before being claimed by the Hurricanes — had 38 saves and lost for just the second time in 13 starts this season.

Marchand’s goal was his 20th of the season for Florida, making him the third-oldest player to reach that number with the Panthers. Jaromir Jagr did it at 43, Joe Nieuwendyk did it at 39. Marchand, in his first full season with Florida, is 37.

Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots for Florida, which now has won seven of its last eight games.

Staal scored at 11:53 of the first put Carolina up 1-0, and it stayed that way until Aho scored on a breakout early in the third. Aho struck again on the power play with 12:26 left, about a minute after Marchand was called for cross-checking — a play that left the Panthers bench in disbelief.

Marchand scored midway through the third, and the rally was on.

Up next

Hurricanes: Visit Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Panthers: Host St. Louis on Saturday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) leaves the ice after losing an NHL hockey game in overtime against the Florida Panthers, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, center, celebrates with center Sam Reinhart, right, and left wing A.J. Greer (10) after making the winning save during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save against Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett as left wing Brad Marchand (63) closes in during overtime of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Panthers, down 3-0 in the third, stun Hurricanes and win in shootout, 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, center, celebrates with center Sam Reinhart, right, and left wing A.J. Greer (10) after making the winning save during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

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Tim Reynolds

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