The “Panthers” beat the Pittsburgh “Penguins” team at home with the score 3:2 (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 0:0 1:0) in the shootout.
Balinski played 20 minutes and 23 seconds, his most playing time of the season. The Latvian scored once, lost one puck and had a neutral efficiency ratio. This season, in 37 matches, Balinskis scored one goal, gave nine assists and had a negative efficiency coefficient of -7.
In the 36th second of the second period, Gustavs Forsling put the hosts in the lead, but in the second half of the third period, Sidney Crosby made it 1:1 with his 11th goal of the season. Matthew Tkeczak regained the lead for the Panthers in the ninth minute of the third period, but Rickard Rakell broke the tie with 40 seconds left in regulation.
Only Floridians Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell made their broadcasts in the postgame shooting series.
With 50 points in 40 games, the “Panthers” occupy the fourth place in the Eastern Conference, while the “Penguins” team has ten points less in the same matches and is in the ninth position.
The “Canucks” represented by forward Teodora Blüger and Shilov lost to the “Predators” of Nashville 0:3 (0:0, 0:1, 0:2) at home.
Shilov was called up to the NHL team after Thatcher Demko was injured in the previous match. On Friday, the Canucks’ goal was guarded by Kevin Lankinen, who saved 18 of 19 shots, as the last two rounds were empty-netted.
Blüger was on the ice for 14 minutes and one second on Friday, scored twice, used four power plays, won eight of 14 shots and had a negative efficiency coefficient of -1. This season, he scored 17 points (5+12) in 38 matches and accumulated a negative utility of -3.
Blügers was the first goal conceded on the pitch, when Stevens Stemkos made it 1:0 in the 17th minute of the second period. Gustavs Nykvist and Colton Sisson scored in the “Canucks” goal in two minutes of regular time.
Jūse Saross saved all 27 shots in the winning goal.
With 44 points in 38 games, the “Canucks” are in eighth place in the Western Conference, where the “Predators” are in 14th position with 31 points in 39 games.