Panthers score 7 franchise goals in opening period to put Canadiens on the run
Carter Verhaeghe scored twice in Florida’s franchise-record seven goals in the first period as the Panthers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 9-5 on Thursday night.
Florida scored six goals in the second period against Boston on April 5, 2000. Against Montreal, the Panthers were just shy of tying the franchise record for goals in a game set in 1997, going scoreless in the third period.
The teams combined to score 10 goals in the first period to tie the NHL record for goals scored in a first period. It was also the fastest first 10 goals in an NHL game, with Florida conceding the 10th goal at 13:18.
Aaron Ekblad also scored twice for Florida, putting the Panthers within three points of the final wild card spot. They are 4-0-1 in their last five.
Ekblad, Colin White, Gustav Forsling, Ryan Lomberg and Sam Reinhart also scored for Florida as the Panthers led 7-3 after one. Florida extended their lead with goals from Ekblad and Matthew Tkachuk in the second period. Tkachuk added three assists.
Michael Pezzetta, Rem Pitlick, Anthony Richard and Rafael Harvey-Pinard also scored for Montreal.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for Florida.
Montreal replaced goaltender Sam Montembeault after Florida scored three goals in the first six shots of the game. Jake Allen came in and eventually conceded six goals in 17 shots before Montreal brought Montembeault back to finish the game.
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