Verhaeghe’s scoring flurry lifts Panthers
Carter Verhaeghe’s first-period scoring flurry and a standout performance in goal from Spencer Knight brought the longest active win streak in the NHL to a halt.
Verhaeghe scored twice 26 seconds apart in the first period, Matthew Tkachuk scored his 12th goal and had an assist, and the Florida Panthers snapped Seattle’s sevengame win streak with a 5-1 win over the host Kraken on Saturday night.
Seattle couldn’t solve Knight other than Jared McCann’s goal early in the second period. Knight made 36 saves and the Panthers won consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month.
“Just solid, square to the puck. Anything that got away from him he had an answer for,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said of Knight. “One or two really really good saves, crossseam saves that are hard to make. Gave us a nice bit of confidence and calm back there.”
Florida needed Knight to be at his best because of injuries. Florida had just 10 forwards available for most of the game after Patric Hornqvist was helped off the ice in the first period. Defender Radko Gudas also played just two shifts and had 2:08 of ice time.
Maurice said he didn’t know the extent of the injuries but both would need to physicians.
Verhaeghe got Florida off to a perfect start scoring at 13:00 of the first period after Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer slid too far across his net and was run into by Staal leaving the goal open. Seattle challenged for goaltender interference but the goal was upheld and Florida went on the power play.
Florida capitalized and Verhaeghe scored his second moments later. Verhaeghe has 14 goals in 25 games and has five games with at least two g oals this season.
Tkachuk assisted on both of Verhaeghe’s goals and added his own in the second period on the power play, tipping Aaron Ekblad’s shot from the point. Tkachuk’s goal was one of two shots Florida had in the second period as Seattle
continually peppered Knight with shots.
SUNDAY’S GAMES Wild 6, Stars 5 (SO):
Frederick Gaudreau scored Minnesota’s third goal in the third shootout round as visiting Minnesota won after owning a four-goal third-period lead. Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov also scored in the shootout for the Wild, who swept a backto-back in shootouts to extend their winning streak to four games. Roope Hintz notched his
second career hat trick for the Stars, who earned points for the 10th game in their past 11. Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski scored in the shootout for Dallas. Hintz’s final goal, with the extra skater on, tied the score 5-5 with 2:11 remaining in regulation.
Jets 5, Ducks 2: Morgan Barron and Mark Scheifele scored a pair of quick goals in the third period and host Winnipeg beat Anaheim. Barron scored at 13:23 for a 3-2 lead.