SUNRISE, Fla. _ The puck took an unlikely path to the back of the net. In the second period of the Florida Panthers' 2-1 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night, Nick Bjugstad performed an act of sorcery in scoring his fifth goal of the season.
After Bjugstad and Vincent Trocheck won a battle behind the goal, Bjugstad recovered a loose puck and flung a backhand towards the front of the net. Its destination was likely Henrik Haapala. It never reached him. The puck instead caromed off Maple Leafs defenseman Connor Carrick's skate and split Frederik Andersen's legs, finishing near its starting point through a circuitous flight.
The goal was fluky. It was unusual. It also is one that hasn't been happening for the Panthers this season.
Florida entered Wednesday's tilt with Toronto after losing back-to-back games in Los Angeles and Anaheim despite outshooting both teams. Against the Ducks on Sunday, Florida fired 52 shots on goal. Only two went in.
Players and coach Bob Boughner lamented the lack of "puck luck." Even if their lackluster special teams units lagged behind, they trusted their 5-on-5 play to produce goals at some point. They understood the results needed to improve. They thought their play needed to remain steady.
Bjugstad's goal, paired with his game-winning goal in the shootout helped lift the Panthers to their first win since last Thursday in San Jose.
Early on, the Panthers controlled play. They had 11 shots on goal before the Maple Leafs registered one. In the first period, they finished with 14 shots on goal to Toronto's seven.
But the game was largely lifeless through the first 35 minutes of the game. The scoring chances were scarce. The offense promised in a matchup between the potent Panthers and high-powered Maple Leafs went absent.
Without highlight reel passes and lacking dramatic saves, mundane plays took center stage. Panthers rookie forward Chase Balisy starred on the penalty kill. Mike Matheson blocked a pair of shots. Mark Pysyk led all skaters with five shots on goal through the first two periods.
Aaron Ekblad had a chance off a power-play feed from Haapala. Andersen stopped him. Morgan Reilly had a chance with a shot from the circle. Roberto Luongo denied him.
Andersen even provided a moment of weirdness just 76 seconds into the game when his blade fell off his skate after it was clipped by a Panthers shot.
Bjugstad's goal with 4:46 left in the second period broke the goalless tie. Trocheck and Haapala each picked up assists on the play, which was Haapala's first of his NHL career. Haapala was recalled Wednesday morning and played in his first game.
The Maple Leafs tied the game with Nazem Kadri's goal at 13:58 of the third period. After MacKenzie Weegar jumped up into the neutral zone, Toronto broke into Florida's offensive zone with a 2-on-1. Connor Brown slipped a pass to Kadri. Kadri roofed it past Luongo. Florida's lead was gone.
Wednesday's game was the final one before Thanksgiving for Florida, its final chance to climb the standings before an unofficial milestone on the NHL calendar. Across the last four seasons, about 80 percent of postseason teams were in playoff position at the holiday. The Panthers entered Wednesday seven points from a wild-card spot.
