Chilling finish from Benjamin Rautiaisen in the NHL - sank Florida Panthers

Benjamin Rautiainen became the hero of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the team’s final preseason game against the Florida Panthers. The Finnish forward scored the equalizing goal in the third period and clinched the victory with a spectacular penalty shot, as the Lightning defeated the Panthers 3–2 after a shootout.

Rautiainen brought the Lightning level with a power play goal. He received a pass from Gage Goncalves in front of the net and redirected the puck into the goal.

However, the most impressive play of the night was seen in the shootout. Rautiainen used his skate to control the puck, faked from forehand to backhand and back to forehand, and finished stylishly past Panthers goalie Akira Schmid.

After the game, Rautiainen revealed that he took inspiration for his penalty shot from Florida Panthers’ Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov.

– I actually saw Barkov do this move, passing the puck to his skate. So I tried to copy him in his home arena. It was nice that it went in. It came to my mind on the bench and I decided to give it a try. I’ve never done it before, this was the first time, Rautiainen told reporter Eduardo A. Encina according to.

The future of 21-year-old Rautiainen is likely to be clarified soon, as the NHL season starts next week. If a spot on the Lightning’s NHL roster does not open up, the Finnish forward is set to return to Tappara.

Rautiainen has played one game for Tappara this season and scored one goal in that game. Last season, he celebrated winning the league’s scoring title, accumulating an impressive 77 points (25+52) in 59 games.

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