Tarasov stops 27, Panthers end Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Daniil Tarasov made 27 saves, including two point-blank stops against Nathan MacKinnon late in the third period, and the Florida Panthers ended the Colorado Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday.

Colorado also saw its 13-game point streak (12-0-1) end with the loss. It was the Avalanche’s first regulation loss since a 6-3 defeat at the New York Islanders on Dec. 4.

“That was a big, big game for us,’’ said Florida coach Paul Maurice, whose team played without top defenseman Seth Jones. “Losing Seth and playing the most dynamic team in the League, the goalie is going to be an important player in that. And [Tarasov] was. … We played hard, we played right, did a lot of really good things to keep them from being as explosive as they can be.’’

Aaron Ekblad scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and Sam Bennett also scored for the Panthers (22-16-3), who had lost three of their previous four.

It was Florida’s first game since losing 5-1 to the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic in Miami on Friday.

“It was a game where you were flowing through it, and [Tarasov] came up with some huge saves,” Ekblad said. “That save on MacKinnon was special. We’re lucky he played that well. … It’s a big game for us obviously, huge that we were able to come up with it.”

Artturi Lehkonen scored for the Avalanche (31-3-7), and Scott Wedgewood made 23 saves in his second start in as many nights. Wedgewood stopped 25 shots in a 5-3 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

“I thought we played hard, a slow start, too many turnovers early in that game,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It looked like they were more competitive than we were and then we got going a bit. Hard fought, close game. We didn’t capitalize on a couple of our opportunities.’’

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog left at 1:22 of the second period after sustaining what Bednar called an upper-body injury.

With the score tied 1-1, Landeskog was driving to the net when he lost his footing and crashed into the cage before going into the boards. Landeskog remained on the ice in a heap while being attended to, and was helped off by MacKinnon and head athletic trainer Matt Sokolowski.

Colorado also played without defenseman Devon Toews, who was injured Saturday at Carolina.

“He’s going to miss some time,” Bednar said of Landeskog. “He’s still getting looked at and diagnosed, but he didn’t look comfortable. He’s going to miss some time, for sure. … I hate to see any player, let alone our captain, go in like that. But it’s a fast game, and he got tripped up a little bit. There wasn’t much there except for the collision with the post.”

MacKinnon and the rest of the Avalanche were relieved to hear Landeskog did not sustain another knee injury.

He missed the entirety of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons after having major surgery on his right knee, returning to action with the Avalanche in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“When he is down, he’s really hurt so it’s scary stuff,’’ MacKinnon said. “It’s not his knee, I can tell you that. We were all asking. It’s not his knee, which is great. But he was in a whole lot of pain.’’

Bennett gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 6:27 of the first period when he forced a turnover deep in the zone, drove to the net and put a backhanded shot on Wedgewood. Bennett was then able to get his stick on the loose puck and put it through.

The goal extended Bennett’s point streak to nine games (four goals, six assists).

“It was a pretty sound all-around game. We battled hard all night and shut it down when we needed to,” Bennett said. “I feel pretty good about my game; our whole line has been generating quite a bit.”

Lehkonen tied it 1-1 at 11:51 when Josh Manson’s low point shot skipped along the ice, hit the skate of Lehkonen and went past Tarasov.

Ekblad put the Panthers back ahead 2-1 at 18:12 of the second period after coming through the offensive zone and sending a slap shot far side from the right circle.

Wedgewood was screened by Florida forward Sam Reinhart and appeared to have never seen the shot come through.

Tarasov shut out the Avalanche the rest of the way, making five saves in the third -- including the two big ones on MacKinnon at 18:21 and 19:49.

“We kept our structure, played really good in our own zone,’’ said Tarasov, who lost 6-2 to the Avalanche in Colorado on Dec. 11. “We created some offense, and it was enough with two goals tonight.”

NOTES: Bednar said Toews is “going to miss some time, too,’’ but said he would remain with the team and continue on to Tampa although he will not play. Bednar said a timeline for a return will be better known when the team gets back to Colorado. … Colorado’s 10-game winning streak is tied for the longest such run in the NHL this season. Colorado has had two 10-game winning streaks this season, the only team in the League with multiple win streaks of eight or more games. … The Panthers ended an opponent’s 10-game winning streak for the first time; they stopped their previous long of nine games twice (Carolina 2021-22, Edmonton Oilers 2000-01).