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Kaprizov Goes Wild, Panthers Lose Home Opener
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- Kaprizov Goes Wild, Panthers Lose Home Opener
Kaprizov Goes Wild, Panthers Lose Home Opener
SUNRISE— The Florida Panthers found home to be not-so-hospitable Saturday in a 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild got three goals from Kirill Kaprizov in a game it never trailed as Minnesota snapped Florida's four-game point streak.
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The Panthers had won seven straight home openers dating to 2019 before losing Saturday night.
The power play continues to be a concern for the Panthers as they went 0-for-5 with the man advantage on Saturday and only have a goal from Eetu Luostarinen in a 1-for-28 start to the season.
Luostarinen took another hard shot off the leg during Florida's fourth power-play chance in the third and left the ice.
Matthew Tkachuk brought the Panthers within a goal early in the second after Minnesota scored twice in the first; Kaprizov scored a few minutes later to restore the two-goal lead.
Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves in his first regular-season game back in Sunrise as the Panthers' goalie since 2013.
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Florida, which went 2-0-2 on its opening four-game road trip, head back on the road with a back-to-back set in Buffalo and Columbus starting Monday afternoon.
The Panthers return home Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks.
NOTEBOOK: WILD at PANTHERS
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Aaron Ekblad officially became the franchise's all-time leader in games played with 807. Ekblad reluctantly takes the mantle from Sasha Barkov— at least for the time being.
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Ekblad tied Barkov in games played late last season, but never did pass him after missing the final eight games with injury. Ekblad left the team on paternity leave while still tied with Barkov last weekend.
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Barkov and Ekblad ended last season tied with 804 games played and, prior to Saturday, had both played two games this season. Barkov is out 6-8 weeks with a knee injury.
HOW THEY SCORED
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Wild 1, Panthers 0 (0:53 1st): Matt Boldycharged into the Florida zone after a missed chance by the Panthers at the other end and whipped a wrister from the high slot past Jacob Markstrom.
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Wild 2, Panthers 0 (6:18 1st PP): Kirill Kaprizovuncorked a hard one-time from the right circle.
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Wild 2, Panthers 1 (2:18 2nd): Matthew Tkachukcomes up on a 2-on-1 with Carter Verhaeghe,keeps it and shoots; Jesper Wallstedtmade the initial save, but the puck went off defenseman Daemon Huntand Tkachuk pushed it through.
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Wild 3, Panthers 1 (5:00 2nd):Kaprizov gets his second of the game, sending a wrister off a pass from Boldy.
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Wild 4, Panthers 1 (18:56 3rd EN):Make that No. 3 for Mr. Kaprizov.
FHN'S 3 STARS
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1. Kirill Kaprizov, Wild
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2. Matt Boldy, Wild
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3. Jesper Wallstedt, Wild
ON DECK: GAME No. 6
FLORIDA PANTHERS at BUFFALO SABRES
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When: Monday, 1 p.m.
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Where: KeyBank Arena, Buffalo
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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. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
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Last Season: Sabres Won 3-1
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This Season — At Buffalo: Monday; March 20. At Florida: Nov. 21; Dec. 30
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All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 61-48-8, 4 ties
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Up Next for the Panthers: Tuesday at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6:15 p.m.
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