So, you’re looking for the score to the Panthers game. Honestly, if you blinked during the first period of the Florida Panthers matchup against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, January 17, 2026, you might have missed the start of a serious redemption arc.
The Florida Panthers walked away with a 5-2 victory over the Capitals at Capital One Arena.
It wasn't just a win. It was a statement. After that absolutely brutal 9-1 shellacking they took from the Carolina Hurricanes just twenty-four hours prior, fans were rightfully a little nervous. Losing by eight goals usually leaves a team with a massive hangover, but Paul Maurice clearly got through to them in the locker room.
What is the score to the Panthers game and how did it happen?
The game didn't just fall into their laps. Florida had to grind for this one.
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The scoring opened up in the first period at 13:23 when A.J. Greer found the back of the net. He got some help from Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad. That 1-0 lead felt like a massive weight off the team's shoulders. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the Panthers' bench across the TV broadcast.
Things got even better in the second. Bennett, who was basically a man possessed all night, scored at 11:40 to make it 2-0. But the real story for many was Uvis Balinskis. The guy just signed a two-year contract extension on Friday, and he celebrated by ripping a power-play goal at 15:16 of the second period.
The Capitals didn't just lie down, though. They managed to claw back two goals, making it a 3-2 game and putting the pressure right back on Florida.
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Then came the empty netters. Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe sealed the deal in the final two minutes of the third.
Breaking down the 5-2 Win
- Final Score: Florida Panthers 5, Washington Capitals 2.
- The Standout: Sam Bennett finished the night with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists).
- The Bounce Back: Coming off a 9-1 loss, this win moved the Panthers to a 25-20-3 record.
- Goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky looked way more settled than he did against Carolina, providing the backbone Florida needed.
Wait, are you looking for the Carolina Panthers?
If you're an NFL fan asking about the Carolina Panthers, things are a bit quieter right now. Since it's mid-January 2026, the NFL regular season has wrapped up. Their last major highlight was actually a wild one from a year ago—that 44-38 overtime win against the Falcons where Bryce Young looked like the superstar everyone hoped he’d be. Currently, the Carolina squad is in "offseason mode," watching the playoffs from the couch like the rest of us.
For the college hoops fans, the Eastern Illinois Panthers also saw action today, January 18. They absolutely dismantled Blackburn College with a final score of 105-49. If you were looking for that "Panthers" score, well, it was a blowout of epic proportions. Zion Fruster and Andre Washington were basically playing a different game than everyone else on the court.
Understanding the Florida Panthers’ Momentum
Checking the score to the Panthers game is about more than just numbers on a screen; it’s about the playoff race. The Atlantic Division is a meat grinder. Every time Florida drops a game like that 9-1 disaster, the "doom and gloom" starts trending on social media.
Winning 5-2 in Washington is exactly the kind of "pro" win that stabilizes a season. They didn't panic when the lead cut to 3-2. They didn't let the previous night's trauma affect their forecheck.
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If you’re tracking their progress, keep an eye on the power play. Balinskis scoring on the man advantage is a huge sign for their depth. When the big guns like Tkachuk or Barkov are being shadowed, the secondary scoring has to show up. It did.
What to do next:
If you missed the live action, go back and watch the second-period highlights of Sam Bennett's playmaking. It was a clinic in puck protection. Also, check the upcoming NHL schedule; the Panthers are back on the ice soon, and staying consistent after a bounce-back win is usually where this team either builds a streak or stumbles. You'll want to track the injury report for Aaron Ekblad, as his minutes were crucial in stabilizing the defensive zone during the third-period push by Washington.