‘Heck of a hockey player:’ Panthers’ Mike Hoffman keeps rolling v Islanders

When the Florida Panthers have needed a big shot this season, Mike Hoffman has answered the call. It should be no surprise then that he has done so in this series against the Islanders.

Hoffman goes into Friday’s Game 4 against the Islanders as Florida’s team leader with two goals and four points.

His goals have given the Panthers some life when it has been needed.

In Game 2, his big shot from the left circle at 11:16 of the first period gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead — their first of the series.

On Wednesday, Hoffman gave Florida its second and ultimately final lead of that game when he used his booming slap shot to launch one from his favorite spot — the right circle — 41 seconds into the third.