Recap: Panthers even series with convincing 5-1 win over Capitals

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each scored a goal and an assist to power the Florida Panthers to a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals, evening the first round series at a game apiece.

Sergei Bobrovsky was very strong over the first two period, stopping 23 of 24 shots while his mates got finally got the offense revved up after another slow start. Bobrovsky only had to face three shots in the third as the Panthers completely dominated the final frame,

Aaron Ekblad got a little lucky when he opened the scoring with 3:40 left in the first. Ekblad took a crossing pass from Barkov and drove a shot off Martin Fehervary’s hockey pants that bounced off the ice and up and over a helpless…