The Florida Panthers wasted no time setting the tone Tuesday night, erupting for five goals in the opening period and cruising to a 6–3 victory over the Ottawa Senators behind a historic start and a four-point performance from Matthew Tkachuk.
Florida struck just eight seconds after the opening faceoff when Noah Gregor buried the fastest game-opening goal in franchise history, igniting an early offensive avalanche that Ottawa never recovered from. Gregor’s tally broke the Panthers’ previous record of 10 seconds set by Johan Garpenlov in October 1996 and stands as the fastest goal to begin a game anywhere in the NHL this season.
The Panthers kept the pressure on immediately after Gregor’s strike. Carter Verhaeghe scored twice and added an assist, while Tkachuk delivered his first four-point outing since December 2024 with a goal and three helpers. Seth Jones contributed three assists — including one on Gregor’s record-setting opener — as Florida raced to a 5–0 lead with 5:24 still remaining in the first period.
A.J. Greer and Mackie Samoskevich also found the net for Florida, while Sam Bennett chipped in two assists. Goaltender Daniil Tarasov made 22 saves to help secure the win.
Ottawa attempted to respond after the early onslaught. Drake Batherson, Jordan Spence and Michael Amadio each scored for the Senators, but the deficit proved too large to overcome as the club slipped to 0-2-1 over its last three games while battling for position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Senators starter Linus Ullmark stopped 11 of 16 shots before being pulled late in the first period following Florida’s fifth goal. James Reimer entered in relief and steadied things with 12 saves on 13 shots the rest of the way.
Tuesday’s matchup also marked the 25th NHL meeting between brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa’s captain. With the victory, Matthew improved his record in head-to-head games against his younger brother to 15 wins.
The night carried additional significance as veteran linesman Brad Kovachik officiated the final regular-season game of his distinguished career. During a first-period stoppage, players from both teams lined up to shake Kovachik’s hand in recognition of his 1,972nd and final regular-season assignment after three decades in the league that included five Stanley Cup Final appearances and work at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Ottawa returns home to host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, while Florida continues its homestand against the Boston Bruins the same night.
