Florida Panthers beat Winnipeg Jets 5-2 as Lundell scores hat trick

How Did Seth Jones Make Florida Panthers History in October?

Seth Jones capped off a massive month by logging a goal and two assists on Friday night, bringing his October total to 18 points. That stat line—comprising two goals and 16 assists—surpasses the previous franchise record for the most points by a Florida defenseman in any single calendar month. Keith Yandle previously held the mark with 17 points in March 2018.

Anton Lundell scored his first career hat trick and fifth by a @FlaPanthers skater since the start of October — the most by a team in a single calendar month since the Blackhawks in Dec. 1991 (5).#NHLStats: https://t.co/xwoElsHWfc pic.twitter.com/YTtDspuHMn

— https://x.com/NHLPR/status/2116360604797862348

What Triggered Winnipeg’s Eighth Loss?

The Jets are stuck in a severe slide, dropping both ends of a home-and-home series with Florida this week and falling to 4-7-3 overall after a 0-6-2 stretch. Global News noted that goaltender Nico Daws made his first start for Winnipeg since arriving in a trade from New Jersey last week, stopping 33 shots. Despite Kyle Connor netting his team-leading 11th goal and Morgan Barron scoring his first of the season to narrow the gap to 3-2 in the third period, defensive lapses kept the visitors behind.

It was great to kinda get us back in the game and bring it back to within one, Barron said, as reported by Global News. But it kinda dissipates pretty quickly. Not much feels too good right now. We’re trying to get out of this slump and obviously these points are really important.

Three goals for Anton Lundell, two points for the @FlaPanthers, one great night! 😼 pic.twitter.com/n1asU3J55m

— https://x.com/NHL/status/2116345459132551356

Jets head coach Scott Arniel pointed to a better work ethic over the full 60 minutes, saying:

I obviously don’t like the ending or the score. But we talked about it last night, we came out and we battled.

That one was a lot closer to how we needed to play for 60 minutes.

Scott Arniel, via Sportsnet.ca and Global News

This rough patch marks the second time in two seasons that Winnipeg has endured an extended drought, following an 11-game skid between December 15 and January 9 during the 2025–26 campaign, according to Sportsnet.ca.

Who Stole the Show on the Ice Outside of the Scoring Sheet?

Anton Lundell claimed the spotlight by netting Florida’s fifth hat trick of the young season. After scoring earlier, he pushed the lead back to two goals following Barron’s marker, and then sealed the 5-2 win with an empty-netter with 1:39 remaining. Akira Schmid anchored the Panthers’ defense by stopping 22 shots.

Physicality arrived early when Florida’s Bokondji Imama and Winnipeg’s Tyrel Bauer dropped the gloves just 2:04 into the contest. The bout served as a heavyweight rematch of their viral 2024 AHL fight, lasting over a minute before both players shared a respectful nod as it ended.

“That was a relief. I just kept battling, kept grinding and just believing that at some point I’m going to score, and after all the chances, today was the day.” Lundell on his first career hat trick. pic.twitter.com/aHqLe3phkb

— https://x.com/FlaPanthers/status/2116372087279632861

What Lies Ahead for Both Clubs?

The Panthers played just their third home game of the season on Friday, giving them the fewest home dates in the NHL at that point while over half the league had already logged at least seven. Florida remains without key forwards Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand due to injuries, though head coach Paul Maurice noted both skaters returned to practice this week, with Marchand tracking toward a return in roughly three weeks and Barkov in four.

The Jets head to North Carolina to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday with puck drop just after 1 p.m., as reported by Global News. Meanwhile, the Panthers return to home ice to host the Detroit on Monday night.

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