Takeaways as Panthers beat Islanders in OT for four-game win streak entering All-Star Break

The game played out oh-so-similarly to the one night before. For a second consecutive night, the Florida Panthers allowed their opponent to tie the game late after they pulled their goalie for an extra skater.

This time, though, the Panthers finished off their win in overtime instead of waiting for the shootout.

And the Panthers are heading into the All-Star Break on a high note.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored 1:55 into overtime to lead the Panthers to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. One night earlier, the Panthers had to go to a shootout to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Panthers go into the break with a 31-14-4 record, which is the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference behind only the Boston Bruins. They won each of their final four games and have won a franchise record eight consecutive games on the road — their last road loss came on Dec. 18 at Calgary. The Islanders fall to 20-17-12.

Ekman-Larsson’s goal came on a two-on-one rush with Evan Rodgriues, with the defenseman beating Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov. It was Ekman-Larsson’s eighth career overtime goal and first since Oct. 15, 2016, while playing with the Coyotes.

Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk scored on the power play in regulation for Florida’s other two goals.

Reinhart’s power-play goal in the second period was his 20th goal on the man advantage this season, breaking the franchise record initially set by Scott Mellanby in the 1995-96 season and then matched by Pavel Bure in the 2000-01 season.

Tkachuk then scored with 14:01 left in regulation when he deflected in a shot from Aleksander Barkov on the power play to give Florida a 2-1 lead. Tkachuk also had the primary assist on Reinhart’s goal for his sixth multi-point game in the month of January.

In 13 January games, Reinhart and Tkachuk combined for 25 goals.

Saturday was the Panthers’ second consecutive game with multiple power-play goals and the ninth time overall this season they did so.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Putting Sam Reinhart’s power-play prowess into perspective

Reinhart’s 20 power-play goals not only lead the NHL this season. Entering Saturday, there were seven teams who had 20 goals or fewer on the power-play this season.

To phrase it another way, Reinhart has as many or more power-play goals as nearly one-quarter of the NHL’s 32 teams.

Those teams: The Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins all have 20 power-play goals, while the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals have 19 power-play goals each.

With 20 power-play goals in 49 games, Reinhart is on pace for 33 power-play goals over the full 82-game season. For what it’s worth, the NHL record for most power-play goals in a season is 34 by Tim Kerr in the 1985-86 season.

Only five players have ever cracked 30: Kerr, Leon Draisaitl (32 in 2022-23 season), Dave Andreychuk (32 in 1992-93 season), Mario Lemieux (31 twice, first in 1988-89 season and then again in 1995-96 season) and Joe Nieuwendyk (31 in 1987-88 season).

In addition to setting the Panthers’ franchise record for power-play goals in a season, Reinhart’s 24 total special teams goals (he also has four shorthanded goals) are tied with Bure for the most in franchise record.

Additionally, Reinhart’s 13-game point streak is tied for second-longest in Panthers history — four shy of Mike Hoffman’s record of 17 games — and his 37 total goals are the eighth-most in franchise history and three shy of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews for the most in the NHL this season.

Anthony Stolarz stars on the road

Panthers goaltender Anthony Stolarz entered Saturday as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders on the road this season, posting a .930 save percentage and 1.81 goals against average.

His start against the Islanders was more of the same.

Stolarz stopped the first 14 shots he faced and 21 of 23 overall.

And, for good measure, Stolarz was credited with the secondary assist on Ekman-Larsson’s overtime goal.

The Islanders’ Simon Holmstrom tied the game at 1-1 with 3:31 left in the second period when he scored immediately off a New York offensive zone faceoff. New York then tied the game with 1:29 left in regulation on a Kyle Palmieri one-timer when the Islanders pulled Varlamov for an extra attacker.

Saturday marked Stolarz’s seventh consecutive road start in which he allowed no more than two goals.

On the season overall, Stolarz is 8-4-2 on the season.

Time for a break

The Panthers will be off for the next week and half for the All-Star Break along with their regular-season bye week.

When they do return to action, it will begin with a three-game homestand on Feb. 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Feb. 8 against the Capitals and Feb. 10 against the Colorado Avalanche.