Rodrigues gets deciding goal in shootout as Panthers beat Flyers 4-3 for 7th straight win

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Evan Rodrigues scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped five shots in overtime and the Florida Panthers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Sam Bennett, Dmitry Kulikov and Nate Schmidt had goals in regulation for Florida, while Rodrigues had a pair of assists before delivering the shootout winner. Bobrovsky got his 404th career win, breaking a tie with Grant Fuhr for 12th on the all-time list.

Anthony Richard, Joel Farabee and Garnet Hathaway scored for Philadelphia, and Scott Laughton had two assists for the Flyers.

Aleksander Barkov also scored in the tiebreaker for Florida, and Owen Tippett tallied for Philadelphia.

Flyers: Philadelphia is now 1-9-1 this season when allowing three or more goals. Samuel Ersson had 28 saves for the Flyers.

Panthers: Florida had a three-goal second period for the second straight game. The Panthers are now 6-0-0 this season when they have at least three goals in any period.

The robes returned to Florida as the team's choice of pregame arrival apparel. The Panthers wore the robes — a gift for their trip to Finland earlier this month — for a fourth consecutive game, and evidently intend to keep doing it until this winning streak ends.

The game was the 2,000th as an NHL coach for Florida's Paul Maurice, including postseason contests. He's the second coach to reach that milestone, joining Hockey Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman (2,494 games).

Flyers host San Jose on Monday to start a stretch of six of seven at home. and Panthers host New Jersey on Tuesday to open a two-game series.

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Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) blocks a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Philadelphia Flyers left wing Joel Farabee, second from right, celebrates with teammates after he scored during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky deflects a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Philadelphia Flyers left wing Joel Farabee (86) and Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt, rear, battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) knocks the helmet off of Florida Panthers center Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save against Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, right, scores against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) is congratulated by teammates after he scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, right, is congratulated by defenseman Niko Mikkola after Kulikov scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) congratulates center Anthony Richard (90) after Richard scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — MiLaysia Fulwiley scored 17 points to lead South Carolina's balanced offense, and the second-ranked Gamecocks used a big run in the third and fourth quarters to pull away for an 83-52 victory over Missouri in their SEC opener Thursday night.

Te-Hina Paopao and Ashlyn Watkins added 11 points apiece, and Tessa Johnson had 10, helping the Gamecocks (13-1, 1-0) beat the Tigers (11-5, 0-1) for the fourth straight time and win their eighth straight overall since a loss to UCLA on Nov. 24.

South Carolina, which has struggled in past years at Mizzou Arena, led 36-26 at the break and was still clinging to a 48-37 advantage after the Tigers' Ashton Judd hit a 3-pointer with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. But after Paopao was fouled by Nyah Wilson at the other end, her two free throws started a 17-0 run that stretched into the fourth.

Judd led the Tigers with 15 points. Grace Slaughter finished with 13.

South Carolina showcased its depth and scoring versatility in getting 57 points off the bench.

Missouri was just 18 of 57 from the field (32%), and rarely will that kind of clip knock off the Gamecocks.

The Tigers were hanging around until Paopao was fouled late in the third quarter. Her two free throws began an 11-0 run to end the quarter — one that eventually reached 17-0 — and effectively put the game away.

Missouri had just two points on a fastbreak in the game.

South Carolina concludes its two-game road swing to open SEC play against Mississippi State on Sunday. Missouri continues its tough start to conference play when it visits No. 19 Alabama the same day.

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Missouri's Angelique Ngalakulondi, right, South Carolina's Chloe Kitts (21) and Sania Feagin (20) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)