Anton Lundell scores 3 goals, Seth Jones caps record month and Panthers beat reeling Jets 5-2

Sunrise, Florida (AP) — Anton Lundell scored a hat trick, Seth Jones contributed with a goal and two assists, as the Florida Panthers defeated the struggling Winnipeg Jets 5-2 on Friday night. This victory marked the Panthers' sixth win in their last eight games. Jones set a record for the most points by a Florida defenseman in a single month, finishing October with 18 points, surpassing Keith Yandle's 17 points in March 2018.

Kyle Connor scored Winnipeg's lone goal of the night, dropping both teams to a 2-2 tie in their home-and-home series this week. The Jets suffered their eighth consecutive loss, falling to 0-6-2 in that span. Morgan Barron scored his first goal of the season midway through the third period, extending Florida's two-goal lead. Akira Schmid made 22 saves for Florida, who are still without their star forwards Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand due to injuries.

Barkov could be back in about four weeks, while Marchand might return in around three weeks, according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice. Both players had already resumed skating this week. Additionally, Bokondji Imama and Tyrel Bauer engaged in a physical altercation just two minutes into the game, reminiscent of their fight in the AHL back in 2024.

Despite the altercation, the players exchanged a respectful nod after the fight. Florida's Bokondji Imama and Winnipeg's Tyrel Bauer had a heated confrontation that lasted over a minute and ended with them nodding to each other as if acknowledging their past encounter.