ID 12245461 | Florida Hockey © Michael Ludwig | Dreamstime.com
In a striking display of teamwork and skill, Carter Verhaeghe led the offensive onslaught with two goals and an assist, while Aleksander Barkov contributed with three assists. This marked his second three-assist performance in less than a week. The Florida Panthers left their mark on the Nashville Predators, winning 6-2 on Thursday night.
Reinhart Extends Scoring Streak while Bobrovsky Ties Career Record
Sam Reinhart, continuing his hot streak, scored his 11th goal of the season, extending his scoring streak to five games. The Panthers also saw stellar performances from Matthew Tkachuk, who contributed a goal and an assist, and Uvis Balinskis, who added two assists. Tomas Nosek found the net too for the Panthers.
In the net, Sergei Bobrovsky celebrated his 403rd career win, tying him with Grant Fuhr for 12th on the all-time list.
Predators Struggle as Stamkos Faces Former Team
For the Predators, Steven Stamkos and Juuso Parssinen managed to score. Stamkos, a familiar face to the Panthers, was playing against them for the 83rd time, including playoffs. However, this was the first time he was not wearing a Tampa Bay sweater. The Predators’ record fell to (4-9-1), the franchise’s lowest point tally through 14 games.
Game Highlights and Statistics
Stamkos vs. Panthers
Including playoff games, Stamkos has netted 52 goals against the Panthers, more than any other Florida opponent. Alex Ovechkin follows closely with 45 goals. In regular-season games, Ovechkin leads Stamkos 44-42.
Panthers’ Winning Streak
This marks the Panthers’ fourth regular-season streak of six or more wins since the beginning of the last season. In their first 29 seasons combined, the Panthers had only managed 10 such streaks.
Turning Point
The game’s decisive moment came when Reinhart and Tkachuk scored just 1:41 apart in the first period, giving the Panthers a commanding 2-0 lead only 5:14 into the game.
Key Statistic
The Panthers (10-3-1) have now achieved 10 wins through 14 games for the fourth time in team history. This feat was previously accomplished in 1995-96 (10-4-0), 2020-21 (10-2-2), and 2021-22 (10-2-2).
What’s Next?
The Predators will host Utah on Saturday night before embarking on a five-game road trip. The Panthers, on the other hand, will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, continuing their five-game homestand.
