SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers secured a decisive 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday evening, effectively halting the Islanders’ seven-game winning streak. This game showcased Carter Verhaeghe’s impressive skills as he netted his fourth career hat trick and added an assist, bringing his total points for the night to four. Sam Reinhart also made a significant contribution with his 31st goal of the season, along with an assist.
In addition to Verhaeghe and Reinhart, Evan Rodrigues found the back of the net for the Panthers, and goaltender Spencer Knight was solid in net with 31 saves. Aleksander Barkov shined with three assists while Gustav Forsling also chipped in with two assists, highlighting the depth of Florida’s scoring.
For the Islanders, Kyle MacLean, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Marc Gatcomb each scored a goal. Goaltender Jakub Skarek faced 33 shots, stopping 27 of them in the effort.
Verhaeghe initiated the scoring just 39 seconds into the game with a quick backhander, propelling the Panthers to a strong start. He doubled the Panther’s lead with another goal at 7:08 remaining in the first period. His final goal, completed midway through the third period, was a result of a precise cross-ice pass from Matthew Tkachuk. Notably, this was Verhaeghe’s first hat trick since he achieved four goals in a game against Columbus back on April 1, 2023.
In terms of takeaways, the Islanders had been in excellent form prior to this game. They had not lost since a 5-3 defeat to Philadelphia on January 16, which also marked the last game where they allowed more than two goals. During their winning stretch, the Islanders had outscored their competitors 24-9.
As for the Panthers, Verhaeghe has been in remarkable form over his last two games, accumulating six points with four goals and two assists.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Islanders scored three consecutive goals in the second period, taking a 3-2 lead. However, Rodrigues quickly equalized with 2:08 left in the period, followed by Reinhart’s goal just 51 seconds later, swinging the momentum back in favor of the Panthers.
In terms of key statistics, the Panthers showcased their offensive depth with five players registering multiple points: Verhaeghe (4 points), Barkov (3 points), Reinhart (2 points), Tkachuk (2 points), and Forsling (2 points).
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to action on Tuesday night. The Islanders will host the Vegas Golden Knights while the Panthers travel to take on the Washington Capitals.
