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Jacob Markstrom Makes Big Statement in Return to the Florida Panthers
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- Jacob Markstrom Makes Big Statement in Return to the Florida Panthers
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It had been a minute since Jacob Markstrom patrolled the nets for the Florida Panthers before Tuesday evening in Raleigh.
The last time he did so was on Dec. 20, 2013, in a 5-2 loss in Winnipeg .
That was so long ago, the Panthers still wore the 'leaping cat' logo on the front of their sweaters.
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Even Paul Mauricehad not taken over as Jets coach yet.
Now, Markstrom is manning goal for a much different Panthers team — a championship-caliber team.
That certainly wasn't the case back then.
"I thought we played a great game," Markstrom said after making 15 saves in Florida's season-opening 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime. "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."
Markstrom was sent back to the AHL San Antonio Rampage not long after that loss to the Jets — and he never returned to the Panthers.
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Florida , which ended up finishing second-to-last in the NHL that 2013-14 season, ended up trading Markstrom to the Vancouver Canucks on March 4, 2014 for Roberto Luongo .
Of course, Markstrom did eventually make his way back to Sunrise after the Panthers acquired the now 36-year-old in a deal with the New Jersey Devils .
Markstrom was brought in a day before the NHL free agency market opened, effectively ending Sergei Bobrovsky 'sseven-year run with the Panthers.
On Tuesday, Markstrom made his first start with the Panthers in almost 13 years and it took a while to get going.
None of that was on him.
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After Carolina's pregame celebration to raise their Stanley Cup championship banner, the action remained mostly in the Hurricanes' zone.
Carolina had just one shot on goal for the first 18:30 of the game before getting two on net in the final 90 seconds.
"It was good,'' Maurice said of Markstrom's performance, "and difficult to do. One of the adjustments he has to make is having stretches where there's not a lot of action. 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.''
In the end, Markstrom had to make a couple of really big saves including a Sebastian Aho breakaway in the second.
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He made one save in overtime — allowing Gus Forslingto drill the game-winner from the point with 4.3 seconds left.
"He felt very calm back there, made some incredible saves,'' Forsling said. "I'm really happy for him. Great start.''
ON DECK: GAME No. 2
FLORIDA PANTHERS at SAN JOSE SHARKS
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When: Thursday, 10 p.m.
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Where: SAP Center; San Jose, Calif.
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Streaming: Panthers+ , ESPN+
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Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM. Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
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Last Season: San Jose won 2-0
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This Season — At Florida: Feb. 21. At San Jose:Thursday
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All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 25-15-1, 7 ties
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Up Next for the Panthers: Sunday at Anaheim Ducks , 8 p.m.
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