Florida rallies to beat San Jose, 3-2
an jose — s — Bryan Allen scored with 2:14 left in overtime to help the Florida Panthers rally from an early two-goal deficit to beat the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, on Saturday.
After becoming the first team in NHL history to win three straight games in regulation when trailing after two periods, the Sharks found themselves on the other side of a late comeback.
Shawn Matthias scored the equalizer off a spin move about five minutes into the third period and then set up the game-winner in overtime for Florida. Matthias beat Joe Pavelski on a face-off and then went to the front of the net to set a screen for Allen, whose shot from the point beat Thomas Greiss.
That gave the Panthers their fourth win in five games and first win in 10 years in San Jose as they make a push for the playoffs. Florida entered the day eight points behind Boston for the final playoff spot in the East.
The Sharks still gained a point and moved three points ahead of Chicago for the best record in the Western Conference. They trail Washington by three points for the best mark in the league. San Jose starts a six-game road trip Sunday in Anaheim.
San Jose overcame one-goal deficits in the third period to beat Montreal and Columbus last week before scoring a club-record six goals in the third period Thursday to turn a 4-2 hole into an 8-5 victory over Nashville.
Greiss lost in his first start since Feb. 10 at Columbus. He did start three games at the Olympics for Germany, losing all three times.
— Associated Press
