RALEIGH - Jacob Markstrom stopped all 15 shots he faced and Gus Forsling scored with 4.3 seconds left in overtime as the Florida Panthers opened their season with a 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, capping a remarkable return for the 36-year-old goaltender who had not started a game for Florida since Dec. 20, 2013.
Markstrom’s previous appearance for the Panthers ended in a 5-2 loss in Winnipeg - a night that came before Paul Maurice had even taken over as Jets coach. Florida traded Markstrom to the Vancouver Canucks on March 4, 2014, in the deal that brought Roberto Luongo back to Sunrise. He returned this offseason when the Panthers acquired him from the New Jersey Devils, effectively ending Sergei Bobrovsky’s seven-year run in goal.
“I thought we played a great game,” Markstrom said, per Florida Hockey Now. “Everyone, the whole lineup; all four lines, all six D played really good and made my job a lot easier. … This was great, we played a great game. Good win, good two points.”
The shutout was not without its challenges. After Carolina’s pregame Stanley Cup championship banner ceremony, the Hurricanes managed just one shot on goal through the first 18:30 of play. The long stretches of inactivity, followed by a nearly 2-minute 5-on-3 penalty kill, tested Markstrom’s focus. He answered with a key stop on a Sebastian Aho breakaway in the second period before holding firm in overtime.
Maurice said the conditions made the performance all the more impressive. “One of the adjustments he has to make is having stretches where there’s not a lot of action,” Maurice said. “It was a beautiful ceremony, but there was some time on it. Then you go another 20 minutes where there’s not a lot of action. Next thing you know, you’re sitting on a 5-on-3 for almost 2 minutes. That’s tough, and he handled it like a veteran.”
Forsling, who drilled the game-winner from the point to end it, credited his new netminder. “He felt very calm back there, made some incredible saves,” Forsling said. “I’m really happy for him. Great start.”
The Panthers, who hold a 25-15-1 all-time regular season series lead over San Jose with 7 ties, travel to SAP Center in San Jose on Thursday at 10 p.m. for Game 2. Last season, the Sharks won that matchup 2-0. Florida then heads to Anaheim to face the Ducks on Sunday at 8 p.m.