Carter Verhaeghe’s Hat Trick Powers Florida Panthers Past Islanders 6-3

Carter Verhaeghe recorded his fourth career hat trick, Sam Reinhart scored his 31st goal of the season, and the Florida Panthers halted the New York Islanders seven-game winning streak with a commanding 6-3 victory on Sunday night. Verhaeghe added an assist on Matthew Tkachuk’s empty-net goal, capping off a stellar four-point performance as the Panthers secured an important road win.

Verhaeghe wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring just 39 seconds into the game with a backhand shot. Later in the first period, he doubled Florida’s lead with 7:08 remaining. He completed his hat trick midway through the third period, capitalizing on a beautiful cross-ice feed from Tkachuk. It marked Verhaeghe’s first three-goal game since April 1, 2023, when he netted four goals against Columbus.

Alongside Verhaeghe’s offensive explosion, Reinhart continued his impressive season with a goal and an assist. Evan Rodrigues also found the back of the net, while Aleksander Barkov (three assists) and Gustav Forsling (two assists) contributed to Florida’s offensive depth.

In net, Spencer Knight delivered a strong performance, stopping 31 shots to help the Panthers secure the victory.

New York had not lost since Jan. 16, when they fell 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers. During their seven-game winning streak, the Islanders had outscored opponents 24-9 and allowed more than two goals just once.

Despite falling behind early, the Islanders responded in the second period with three consecutive goals from Kyle MacLean, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Marc Gatcomb to take a 3-2 lead. However, Florida quickly regained control as Rodrigues tied the game with 2:08 left in the second period, followed by Reinhart’s go-ahead goal just 51 seconds later.

Goaltender Jakub Skarek made 27 saves for New York, but he couldn’t withstand Florida’s relentless attack. After the Islanders stormed back with three straight goals in the second period, the Panthers responded with two quick goals late in the frame to regain control. Florida had five players with multi-point performances: Verhaeghe (4 points), Barkov (3), Reinhart (2), Tkachuk (2), and Forsling (2). Over his last two games, Verhaeghe has recorded six points (four goals, two assists), solidifying his role as a key offensive weapon.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday night. The Islanders will look to bounce back when they host the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Panthers travel to Washington to take on the Capitals.

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