Florida Panthers resilience shines in tight matchup with Washington Capitals
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Jonathan Ouimet
Jan 17, 2026 (11:11 PM)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Florida Panthers fans got exactly what they wanted coming off that ugly loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, a fight-to-the-end performance with timely saves from goaltending and clutch scoring that flipped the mood in Sunrise and on the road.
The Panthers entered Satudray's matchup against the Washington Capitals needing character and urgency, and they found both in a 5-3 win that kept them climbing in the standings.
Goalie Daniil Tarasov looked sharp at key moments, stopping chaos when the Capitals pushed early and turning aside shots that would have tilted momentum the other way.
With a solid team effort, Panthers outwork Capitals
Moments after the Capitals had a goal erased for offside, and immediately following a huge Daniil Tarasov save, Florida struck back.
Sam Bennett threw a quick chance from the top of the crease, the rebound spilled into the slot, and A.J. Greer was first to it, burying the loose puck to tilt the game Florida's way.
Uvis Balinskis refused to let the play die at the blue line, holding the puck in after a Washington clear looked like it might escape.
With the zone maintained, he walked it at the point and fired a low shot through layers of bodies, beating traffic and the goalie for his second goal in as many nights.
Balinskis didn't just chip in on the scoreboard, he read plays early, closed lanes in the middle, and turned Washington rushes into harmless dumps, which matters even more with Florida leaning on depth because of injuries.
Maurice had plenty of praise for Uvis Balinskis afterward, and it went way beyond the goal.
«I know he scored the goal, and that was fantastic, but the rest of his game was just outstanding. He got into holes and broke up a whole bunch of plays,» the coach said, basically pointing to the details that win tight games.
Sam Bennett set up shop in the slot, stayed patient through traffic, and took advantage when a Washington defender knocked down a Carter Verhaeghe shot.
The puck dropped right into Bennett's reach, he turned on a dime, spun off pressure, and snapped it home before the crease could reset.
Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe each buried an empty-net goal to close it out.
It was that collective commitment that allowed the Panthers to skate through pressure and find their game when it mattered most.
Florida's forecheck tightened and they began to win more battles below the hash marks, forcing turnovers and creating odd-man rushes.
Now the Panthers head into a crucial stretch where every point matters, and nights like this remind fans and players alike that they're capable of resilience even when things get tight.
The Panthers will likely enjoy a well-earned day off on Sunday before turning the page quickly, with a Monday night matchup looming against Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks rolling into Sunrise.
After an emotional, hard-fought win, the reset matters, both physically and mentally, especially for a group that has been short-handed by injuries.
Monday becomes another test of maturity, facing a young Sharks team that skates freely, pushes pace, and can punish sloppy details if Florida isn't sharp from the opening faceoff.
Also read on Sunrise Hockey Insider :
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice's positive comments on Tkachuck and Marchand status
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice's positive comments on Tkachuck and Marchand status
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 17 | 22 ANSWERS Florida Panthers resilience shines in tight matchup with Washington Capitals Do you think Sam Reinhart showing elite scoring will keep Florida rolling? | ||
| Sam Reinhart | 13 | 59.1 % |
| Panthers Defense | 3 | 13.6 % |
| Tarasov Saves | 0 | 0 % |
| Team Grit | 6 | 27.3 % |
| List of polls | ||