The Florida Panthers defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The Panthers' victory snapped the Avalanche's 10-game winning streak and 13-game point streak. The Panthers never trailed in the game. Sam Bennett opened the scoring for Florida in the first period, extending his personal point streak to nine games. Artturi Lehkonen tied the game for Colorado in the second period with a deflection. Aaron Ekblad scored the game-winning goal late in the second period with a slap shot past a screened Scott Wedgewood. The NHL's top team finally met its match in regulation. The Florida Panthers, defying a season plagued by injuries, secured a gritty 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, January 4, 2026, snapping Colorado's formidable 10-game winning streak and 13-game point streak.In a tightly contested battle at Amerant Bank Arena, the Panthers never trailed. The victory, a significant statement for a Florida team currently four spots out of a playoff berth, handed the Avalanche just their third regulation loss of the season.Game-Defining Moments and Injury ConcernsThe game's narrative quickly shifted from a battle of high-flying offense to a war of attrition. Early in the second period, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog suffered an upper-body injury after losing his edge and crashing hard into the net post. He needed assistance off the ice and will "miss some time," according to Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. The injury, while determined not to be his problematic knee, is a significant blow to the league's powerhouse team. The Panthers were also short-handed, playing without their top defenseman Seth Jones (upper body), who was injured in the Winter Classic on Friday.Sam Bennett put Florida on the board first in the initial frame, driving to the net and extending his personal point streak to nine games. Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen tied the game midway through the second with a deflection, a rare moment of the Avs finding a way through the Panthers' defense.The game-winner came at 18:12 of the second period when defenseman Aaron Ekblad unleashed a booming slap shot from the right circle past a heavily screened Scott Wedgewood. "Great screen from Reino (Sam Reinhart)," Ekblad noted after the game. All three of Ekblad's goals this season have been game-winners.
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Goaltending Stands TallThe third period was a defensive battle, with both teams combining for just 11 shots. The spotlight shone brightly on goaltenders Daniil Tarasov and Scott Wedgewood. Tarasov was spectacular for Florida, making 27 saves in total, including two critical, point-blank stops on Nathan MacKinnon in the final minutes to preserve the win. Wedgewood stopped 23 shots for Colorado, dropping his record to 18-2-4 on the season."That was a big, big game for us," said Florida coach Paul Maurice, acknowledging the importance of the win against the league's most dynamic team. The Panthers, despite a slew of key injuries this season (including Matthew Tkachuk, who may return on the upcoming road trip), proved they can compete with the best.The Avalanche, having gotten at least one point in 30 of their last 31 games, now look to rebound as they continue their road trip.
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