Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov (16) is congratulated after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Matthew Tkachuk nets 3 points, Panthers beat Senators 5-1
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk scored for a sixth consecutive game and added two assists, sparking a four-goal second period that lifted the Florida Panthers to a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist while Sam Bennett, Gustav Forsling and Anton Lundell also scored for the Panthers, who got 26 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky to win for the fifth time in their last six games.
Senators: Ottawa has dropped three straight — and gave up at least four goals in all three of those losses. It’s only the second time this season Ottawa has yielded at least four goals in three straight games. The other stretch was in mid-November.
Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett (9) celebrates with left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Panthers: Florida had a four-goal period for the fourth time this season, also doing it on Oct. 8 against Boston (first), Nov. 30 against Carolina (third) and Jan. 25 at San Jose (second).
KEY MOMENT
Sam Reinhart assisted on Matthew Tkachuk’s go-ahead power-play goal in the second period for his 600th NHL point. He’s the third current Panthers player to reach 600. Barkov and Tkachuk are the others.
KEY STAT
It was the fifth time Matthew Tkachuk had three points in a game against his brother. There have been 11 multi-point games in Tkachuk versus Tkachuk matchups; Matthew has nine of them.
Florida Panthers centre Jesper Boqvist (70) go for the puck against Ottawa Senators defenceman Artem Zub (2) and centre Ridly Greig (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
UP NEXT
With the 4 Nations break, both teams are off until Feb. 22. The Senators play host to the Montreal Canadiens that night, and the Panthers play host to the Seattle Kraken.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) looks at the scoreboard after Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett scored a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)The puck gets past Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) on a goal scored by Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) defends a shot on the goal by Florida Panthers centre Jesper Boqvist (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with centre Aleksander Barkov (16) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) reacts after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) attempts a shot on the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Ottawa Senators left wing Cole Reinhardt (51) and Florida Panthers defenceman Uvis Balinskis (26) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal against Ottawa Senators left wing Cole Reinhardt (51) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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