SEATTLE KRAKEN NOTES:
LAST GAME
Seattle 1 at Washington 4
Goals: Larsson
Goalie: Grubauer (34/36)
PP: 0/2 PK: 3/4 Shots: Seattle 26 – Washington 38
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 73)
Chris Driedger (ACL; IR) – 26 games – month-to-month
Joonas Donskoi (upper body; IR) – 26 games – day-to-day
Jaden Schwartz (upper body) – 1 game – day-to-day
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
Dec. 5, 2022: Recalled F Shane Wright from Coachella Valley (AHL)
Dec. 6, 2022: Loaned F Shane Wright to Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship
UPCOMING GAMES
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Seattle at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 15: Seattle at Carolina, 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, Dec. 18: Winnipeg at Seattle, 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Dec. 20: St. Louis at Seattle, 7 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 22: Seattle at Vancouver, 7 p.m. PT
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Tonight’s game marks the second and final meeting between Seattle and Florida this season, as well as the second of a four-game Eastern Conference road trip that will continue in Tampa Bay on Tuesday and conclude in Carolina on Thursday.
• Entering play Saturday, the Kraken were tied for eighth in the NHL with a .635 points percentage this season.
• Justin Schultz has totaled 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his last 10 games, dating back to Nov. 17 vs. the Rangers.
• The Kraken were one of three teams (Arizona, Florida) this season to have four different defensemen score at least three goals entering play Saturday. Jamie Oleksiak (four), Vince Dunn (four), Adam Larsson (three) and Justin Schultz (three) have all scored at least three times for the Kraken this year.
• Martin Jones’ next win will surpass his 2021-22 season total (12), despite playing in only 19 games so far this season.
• Jones’ 12 wins were tied for the fifth-most in the NHL this season entering play Saturday.
• The Kraken are outshooting their opponents 623-549 at five-on-five this season. Their 53.2 percent shot share was good for sixth in the NHL entering play Saturday according to Natural Stat Trick.
CAT NIP
• Andre Burakovsky has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his last 10 games against Florida dating back to Jan. 28, 2015. He has recorded four multi-point efforts during that span.
• Vince Dunn and Yanni Gourde both scored their first NHL goals against the Panthers – Dunn on Oct. 12, 2017 and Gourde on March 11, 2017
• Jordan Eberle has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games against the Panthers.
• Alex Wennberg has six assists in his last six games against Florida.
ROAD WARRIORS
• The Kraken have posted an 8-2-1 record while playing on the road this season and are one of only three teams (New Jersey, Vegas) to have two or fewer one regulation losses on the road this year.
• The Kraken’s eight road wins are just three wins shy of matching their total from last season (11) despite only playing in 11 road games so far this year.
• Despite playing the second-fewest games on the road this season (11), the Kraken were tied for fifth in the NHL in regulation wins on the road (seven) and ranked third in road points percentage (.773) entering play Saturday.
• The team’s 4.18 goals-per-game played on the road led the NHL entering play Saturday. They join the Buffalo Sabres (4.09), New Jersey Devils (4.08) and the Vegas Golden Knights (4.00) to be averaging four or more goals per game on the road this season.
• Matty Beniers (1.00) and Daniel Sprong (1.00) are both playing at a point-per-game pace on the road this season. Beniers is the Kraken’s leading scorer when playing on the road this season, totaling 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 11 games played.
• Adam Larsson enters tonight’s game riding a career-best, four-game road point streak. He has totaled five points (one goal, four assists) in those four games dating back to Nov. 25 at Vegas.
• Yanni Gourde (two goals, five assists) and Alex Wennberg (four goals, three assists) have each recorded seven points in their last seven games played on the road dating back to Nov. 1 at Calgary.
• Justin Schultz has six assists in his last six road games.
FAMILIAR FOES
• Seattle’s roster houses three players that formerly played for the Florida Panthers: Chris Driedger, Jared McCann and Alex Wennberg.
• Chris Driedger played for the Panthers for two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) before he was selected by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. During those two years, he posted a 21-8-4 record with a .931 save percentage, 2.07 goals-against average and four shutouts.
• Jared McCann played for Florida for parts of three seasons (2016-17 to 2018-19), totaling 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 143 regular-season games.
• Alex Wennberg played for the Panthers during the 2020-21 season, recording 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) and setting a career high in goals.
• Additionally, assistant coach Dave Lowry played for Florida from 1997-98 to 1999-00.
• Assistant coach Paul McFarland held the same role for the Panthers from 2017-18 to 2018-19.
CHEERS TO BENIERS
• Matty Beniers leads all NHL rookies this season in goals (10) and points (21), and his 11 assists were tied for fourth entering play Saturday.
• Beniers’ 10 goals are ranked second on Seattle’s roster, and his 11 assists and 21 points are good for fifth (tied) and third, respectively.
• He enters tonight’s game having totaled 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last nine games played, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles. According to NHL Stats, it’s the first time a rookie has had at least 12 points over a nine-game span since Minnesota’s Matt Boldy did so from March 31 to April 22, 2022.
• Beniers scored the game-winning goal in the Kraken’s game on Dec. 1, a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. It was the first overtime goal of his career and his second game-winning goal of the season (Last: Nov. 1 at Calgary).
• Beniers’ overtime goal came seven seconds into overtime, the fastest overtime goal in franchise history. According to NHL Stats, it was also the fastest goal by a rookie from the start of a regular-season overtime in NHL history. Walter Jackson (0:08 on March 7, 1933) held the previous record.
• Entering play Thursday, Beniers is one of two rookies (Fabian Zetterlund) to score an overtime goal this season and is one of three rookies (Pontus Holmberg, Shane Pinto) to score two game-winning goals this year.
• Entering play Saturday, Beniers was the only rookie this season to have two three-point games, doing so on Nov. 23 vs. San Jose and on Nov. 27 at Anaheim.
• Beniers is also averaging 17:18 of ice time per game this season, which is the second-most among rookie forwards (Noah Cates; 18:03) and ranks fourth among Kraken forwards.
• The 20-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 32 goals, 35 assists and 66 points. 32 goals would be the most by a rookie since Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews had 36 and 40 goals, respectively, during their rookie season in 2016-17.
EBS AND FLOW
• Jordan Eberle enters tonight’s game having recorded 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in his last 18 games played dating back to Oct. 27 vs. Vancouver.
• His 22 points and 16 assists this season are both the second-most on Seattle’s roster, trailing Andre Burakovsky in both categories for the team lead.
• Among players from the 2008 NHL Draft class, Eberle ranked third in scoring this season entering play Saturday, trailing only San Jose’s Erik Karlsson (37 points) and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (32 points).
• Eberle’s 617 career points also ranked third among 2008 draftees, again trailing Stamkos (1,004) and Karlsson (697).
• Eberle was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He is one of 23 players from the ’08 class that are still playing in the NHL, a list that includes Kraken teammate Justin Schultz.
• The 32-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 19 goals, 50 assists and 69 points. 50 assists would be the most of his career, surpassing his current career high of 42 that he set in 2011-12 while playing for the Oilers.
• It would mark the first time in his career that he would reach the 50-assist plateau.
• 69 points would be the second-most of his career, seven points shy of his career-best 76 points that he had in 2011- 12.
• Eberle leads all Kraken skaters in career goals (268), assists (349), points (617) and games played (884).
ON THE DL
• This season defensemen Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson have played 426:07 together during five-on-five, starting every game of the season on a pair together.
o Only Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson (498:42) and Vegas’ Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore (439:24) have spent more time together at five-on-five according to Natural Stat Trick.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken have scored 26 five-on-five goals when Dunn and Larsson are on the ice together. Only New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have been on the ice for more of their team’s five-on-five goals (28).
• The pair’s plus-12 goal differential at five-on-five is tied with Vegas’ McNabb and Theodore for the second-most in the league among defensive pairs this season according to Natural Stat Trick. They trail New Jersey’s Hamilton and Seigenthaler (plus16).
• Additionally, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Dunn/Larsson pairing ranks eighth in the NHL with 18.9 expected goals.
• Dunn is pacing to finish the year with 13 goals, 37 assists and 50 points, all of which would surpass his current career bests (12 goals, 28 assists, 35 points).
BENNY AND THE VETS
• Since Nov. 13 vs. Winnipeg, forwards Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann have played on a line together, totaling 116:16 of ice time at five-on-five together during that span.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, since Nov. 13 when that line is on the ice during five-on-five play, the Kraken are outscoring their opponents 10-2, outshooting them 59-50 and have 57 scoring chances to their opponents’ 41.
• One of Beniers, Eberle or McCann have scored in 10 of the last 11 games the Kraken have played dating back to Nov. 13.
YOU’RE A BURK
• Andre Burakovsky enters tonight’s game leading the Kraken with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) this season. It is the first time in his career that he has played a point-per-game pace through his first 26 games of the season.
• Burakovsky has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last eight games played dating back to Nov. 23 vs. Winnipeg.
• According to NHL Stats, Burakovsky ranks fourth in scoring among veteran players who are in their first season with a new team. He trails Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk (37 points), Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala (30 points) and Columbus’ Johnny Gaudreau (28 points).
• The nine-year vet is currently on pace to finish the season with 28 goals, 54 assists and 82 points, all of which would set career highs for the forward.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, Burakovsky has a 54.1 percent Corsi rating this season, which ranks fourth among Kraken skaters that have played in at least two games.
SETTING THE PACE
• With 26 games played this year, the Kraken are roughly 32 percent of the way through their second season. Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Capitals, eight of the 19 veteran skaters on the Kraken’s active roster are on pace to surpass their career highs in scoring.
• Will Borgen, Andre Burakovsky, Vince Dunn, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong are all on pace to set new career highs in goals, assists and points.
• Borgen has already tied his career high with two goals this season.
• Karson Kuhlman is on pace to tie each of his career bests in goals (three), assists (seven) and points (10).
• Adam Larsson (nine), Jared McCann (41) and Jamie Oleksiak (14) are all on pace to finish the 2022-23 season with a new career high in goals.
• If the pace holds, it would mark the first time in his career that McCann would surpassed the 40-goal threshold.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand (32), Jordan Eberle (50), Justin Schultz (41), Carson Soucy (13) and Brandon Tanev (22) are all pacing to finish the year with new career highs in assists.
• Jared McCann (58), Jamie Oleksiak (25) and Brandon Tanev (35) are all playing at a pace to surpass their career highs in points.
• Adam Larsson is pacing to finish the season with 25 points, which would tie his career best.
IT’S NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER
• The Kraken have won four overtime games this season: Nov. 17 vs. NY Rangers, Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles, Nov. 29 at Los Angeles and Dec. 1 vs. Washington.
• Entering play Saturday, only the Winnipeg Jets (six) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (five) had won more overtime games this season.
• Last year the Kraken won only one overtime game – Jan. 27, 2022 at Pittsburgh (Larsson). The team was 1-5 in 3-on3 overtime last season.
• Four different players have scored in overtime for the Kraken this season: Matty Beniers, Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle and Justin Schutlz. Entering play Saturday, only the Winnipeg Jets (five) have had more players score an overtime goal.
SECOND TIME AROUND
• The Kraken enter tonight’s game with an 15-8-3 record, which is good for a .635 points percentage and 33 points.
• The team won their 15th game of the season on Dec. 1 vs. Washington, their 23rd game played of the season. Last year, it took the Kraken 46 games and 113 days from the start of the season to reach 15 wins, earning their 15th win of the season on Feb. 2, 2022, a 3-0 win at the New York Islanders, the first shutout in franchise history.
• It also took the Kraken 46 games to reach 33 points last season. This year, the Kraken earned their 33rd point of the season in their 23rd game played, a 3-2 OT win against the Capitals on Dec.1.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 marked the 60th day of the 2022-23 NHL season, roughly 32 percent of the way through. Compared to the first 60 days of the 2021-22 regular season, the Kraken have won six more games, earned 12 more points and have improved their points percentage by 0.246.
• The Kraken’s 0.246 points percentage improvement from the first 60 days of the 2021-22 season to the first 60 days of the 2022-23 season ranks third the NHL, trailing only the New Jersey Devils (0.315) and Montreal Canadiens (0.279).
• Their six extra wins are the fifth-best mark in the league. Only the New Jersey Devils (plus-11), New York Islanders (plus-10), Boston Bruins (plus-seven) and Montreal Canadiens (plus-seven) have a better year-over-year win improvement.
• The team’s 12 more points through the first 60 days of the 2022-23 season are also the fifth-best points improvement, trailing the New Jersey Devils (18), New York Islanders (15), Boston Bruins (13) and Montreal Canadiens (13).
• The Kraken have been at or above a .500 points percentage the entire 2022-23 season. They did not achieve that mark past the first three games of the 2021-22 season.
• The team’s 15 wins this season have come against the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings (3), Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins (2), San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals. Eight of those 12 teams made the playoffs last season.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
• The Kraken have posted an 12-4-1 record in their last 17 games played dating back to Oct. 29 vs. Pittsburgh. Their .735 points percentage during that span ranked fifth in the NHL entering play Saturday and their 12 wins and 25 points were both tied for seventh.
• The Kraken are averaging 3.59 goals per game since Oct. 29, which ranked eighth in the NHL entering play Saturday.
• The team is outscoring its opponents 61-50 in its last 17 games played dating back to Oct. 29. Seattle’s plus-11 goal differential ranked seventh in the NHL during that span entering play Saturday.
• Seattle is currently ranked second in the Pacific Division with 33 points in 26 games played. They trail only the Vegas Golden Knights (41 points) for the division lead.
• The Kraken have a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games played. Entering play Saturday, they were one of nine teams in the NHL to win at least seven of their last 10 games.
STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE
• Kate Shefte of the Seattle Times dove deep into the Vince Dunn/Adam Larsson defensive pairing, explaining their success on the ice and their friendship off it.
• Matty Beniers joined John Buccigross on ESPN’s The Point on Dec. 2 to talk about his overtime goal against the Capitals, the team’s depth and more.
• Philipp Grubauer called into the Chuck and Buck show on KJR on Dec. 2 to talk about the Kraken’s overtime win the previous night against his old team.
• Jorden Eberle called into the Brock and Salk show on ESPN 710 to talk about the team’s overtime victory, what’s changed for the Kraken this season and his chemistry with his line mates.
• Kraken Head Coach Dave Hakstol, General Manager Ron Francis and CEO Tod Leiweke joined Ian Furness on KJR on Nov. 30 to talk all things Kraken and the team’s success in its second season.
• On Nov. 30, Kraken broadcaster Alison Lukan joined the Bump and Stacy Show live on ESPN 710 to breakdown the Kraken’s winning streak.
• Jared McCann joined the Bump and Stacy show on Nov. 22 to talk about what has changed for the Kraken this year and the goals they set this offseason.
• On Nov. 22, Justin Schultz called in live to NHL Network radio with Steve Kouleas and Mike McKenna to talk about his overtime winner against New York and the team’s success as of late.
KRAKEN REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Hits: Larsson (69), Borgen (64), Tanev (61)
Blocked Shots: Larsson (58), Oleksiak (38), Borgen (31)
Shots: Burakovsky (69), Bjorkstrand (65), Schwartz (54)
KRAKEN’S RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK]
1-10: 4-4-2 (10), 33/34, 10/37, 22/33
11-20: 8-1-1 (17), 37/22, 5/30, 23/29
21-30: 3-3-0 (6), 21/27, 5/15, 12/24
OVERTIME RESULTS (4-3)
Oct. 12, 2022 at Anaheim: Terry
Oct. 19, 2022 vs. St. Louis: Faulk
Nov. 13, 2022 vs. Winnipeg: Scheifele
Nov. 17, 2022 vs. NY Rangers: Schultz
Nov. 19, 2022 vs. Los Angeles: Eberle
Nov. 29, 2022 at Los Angeles: Burakovsky
Dec. 1, 2022 vs. Washington: Beniers
FLORIDA PANTHERS NOTES:
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
- F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 28
- F Anton Lundell | Games Missed: 4
- D Radko Gudas | Games Missed: 3
- F Patric Hornqvist | Games Missed: 3
- G Spencer Knight | Games Missed: 2
Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 67
LAST GAME
Panthers 1, Lightning 4 – Dec. 10 – Amalie Arena
FLA Goals: Dalpe (2)
TBL Goals: Maroon (1), Point (14), Sergachev (5), Stamkos (15)
FLA Goalie: Bobrovsky (L) – 34 Saves
TBL Goalie: Vasilevskiy (W) – 24 Saves
FLA Shots: 25
TBL Shots: 38
Notes: Eric Staal notched an assist for the second consecutive game…Josh Mahura posted an assist for his second point in as many games (1-1-2)…Zac Dalpe scored his second goal since being recalled by Florida on Dec. 5 from Charlotte (AHL)…Brandon Montour skated in his 400th NHL game…Florida’s 30 hits were tied for their most in a game this season…Colin White logged a game-high five hits…Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 10 shots he faced while Florida was shorthanded…FLA PP: 0-4, FLA PK: 4-4
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Dec. 8: G Alex Lyon recalled from Charlotte (AHL) | F Aleksi Heponiemi loaned to Charlotte (AHL)
- Dec. 5: F Zac Dalpe and D Matt Kiersted recalled from Charlotte (AHL)
- Dec. 4: F Patric Hornqvist placed on LTIR | F Chris Tierney recalled from Charlotte (AHL) on an emergency basis
PANTHERS vs. KRAKEN
ALL-TIME vs. SEA: 1-2-0
ALL-TIME HOME vs. SEA: 0-1-0
2022-23 vs. SEA: 1-0-0
CATS STATS
- Josh Mahura leads Florida with a plus-17 rating this season. All seven of his points (3-4-7) have come at even strength.
- Eric Staal has produced four assists (0-4-4) over his last five games.
- Since being recalled by Florida on Dec. 5, Zac Dalpe has scored two goals (2-0-2).
CATS AND KRAKEN
The Panthers face off against the Kraken for the second and final time this season following Florida’s 5-1 win at Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 3, the Panthers first-ever win against the Kraken. In the game, Sam Bennett (0-3-3), Matthew Tkachuk (1-1-2) and Carter Verhaeghe (2-0-2) all produced multiple points, and 11 total Panthers skaters recorded at least one point. Spencer Knight stopped 35 of 36 Kraken shots on goal. Tkachuk has amassed six goals and 10 points (6-4-10) over five career games against the Kraken, while Aaron Ekblad (0-3-3) and Bennett (0-3-3) have each notched three assists over three games against Seattle.
‘TIS THE SEASON
Florida owns a 3-2-0 record so far in December, averaging 3.6 goals per game and 33.4 shots on goal per game. Their 18 goals scored his month ranks ninth-most among clubs with at least four games played through Dec. 10. 19 different Panthers skaters have recorded a point over Florida’s five December contests, including 15 different skaters with at least two points. Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with eight points (3-5-8) so far this month.
NEW CATS IN TOWN
The Panthers have 27 goals and 78 points (27-51-78) from players who did not play a game for the club last season. Vancouver and Detroit are the only teams with more goals from new players, and Detroit is the only such club with more points from new skaters. In total, 21 different Panthers skaters have scored at least one goal in 2022-23.
PUCKS ON NET
The Panthers, who led the NHL in shots on goal in each of the past two seasons, once again pace the League with 1,072 SOG, the only team with over 1,000 thus far in 2022-23.
CHUCKIE’S CHEESE
Matthew Tkachuk posted his team-leading 13th multi-point game (1-1-2) Dec. 8 vs. DET, extending his point streak to four games (3- 5-8), his third point streak of at least four games in 2022-23. Tkachuk’s team-leading 37 points (13-24-37) through his first 25 games in 2022-23 were both the most by any Panthers skater through their first 25 games with the franchise and the most by any Panthers skater through their first 25 games of a season in franchise history. His 37 points are also the most of any player on a new team this season. The Scottsdale, Ariz. Native also paces the Cats in assists (24), PIMs (41), points per game (1.42), even-strength goals (11- tied with Carter Verhaeghe), even-strength points (25), power-play points (12) and shots on goal (103). He also leads Florida in assists (12) and points (18) at home this season. At five-on-five play, his 63.1% shot attempts percentage is the fourth highest of any NHL skater with at least 25 games played this season, and is the highest of any Panthers skater with at least 25 games played since the NHL began tracking the statistic in 2009-10
Most Points by a Panthers Skater Through first 25 Games with the Franchise
- Matthew Tkachuk 2022-23 37 Points (13-24-37)
- Pavel Bure 1998-99 to 1999-00 30 Points (21-9-30)
- Kris Versteeg 2011-12 28 Points (12-16-18)
Most Points by a Panthers Skater Through First 25 Games of a Season
- Matthew Tkachuk 2022-23 37 Points (13-24-37)
- Pavel Bure 1999-00 34 Points (21-13-34)
- Jonathan Huberdeau 2019-20 31 Points (10-21-31)
BARKOV COUNTY
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov notched one assist Dec. 8 vs. DET after missing Florida’s past six contests. He has registered 19 points (4-15-19) over 21 games in 2022-23, leading Florida with a 59.7 faceoff win percentage. His five multi-assist games are tied with Matthew Tkachuk for the most on Florida this season. Barkov sits at 66 career power-play goals, tied with Scott Mellanby for the most in Panthers history. Over his past six games played, Barkov has produced eight points (2-6-8). Barkov is also three even-strength goals away from surpassing Jonathan Huberdeau (150) for the franchise record.
EK’S GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
Aaron Ekblad notched his 202nd NHL assist to surpass Keith Yandle for second-most by a defenseman in franchise history and sixth-most by a Panthers skater Dec 8 vs. DET. He logged his 611th career blocked shot Dec. 6 at WPG, surpassing Dmitry Kulikov for the most blocked shots in franchise history (since the NHL began tracking in 2005-06). Ekblad logged his 200th NHL assist Nov. 29 at CGY to cap his point streak at five games (3-4-7 from Nov. 20-29), tied for the longest by a Panthers skater this season. He was the third blueliner to reach 200 assists with Florida. Ekblad notched his 199th career assist Nov. 28 at EDM for his 300th NHL point (101-198- 299). He was the first Panthers defenseman to reach the mark with Florida and the first blueliner from the 2014 draft class to post 300 points. He scored his 100th career goal Nov. 23 vs. BOS and produced a season-high three points (1-2-3). The Windsor, Ontario native is three games shy of surpassing Robert Svehla (573) for most games played by a defenseman in club history.
All-Time Games Played, Panthers History
- Jonathan Huberdeau (F) 671 GP
- Stephen Weiss (F) 654 GP
- Aleksander Barkov (F) 617 GP
- Radek Dvorak 613 GP
- Robert Svehla (D) 573 GP
- Roberto Luongo (G) 572 GP
- Aaron Ekblad (D) 571 GP
MR. CARTER
Forward Carter Verhaeghe posted at least one point (3-2-5) in four of his past five games, and he skated in his 200th NHL game Dec. 8 vs. DET. He tallied his fourth power-play goal of the season and matched his career high with eight shots on goal Dec. 6 at WPG. Verhaeghe produced his team-leading fifth multi-goal game Dec. 3 at SEA. His goals came :26 seconds apart, tied for the third-fastest two goals scored by one player in franchise history. He paces Florida in goals (15) and is tied for the club lead in even-strength goals (11) and he has produced 24 points (15-9-24) over 28 games in 2022-23, which ranks second on the team. He posted a point in four straight games from Nov. 3-9 (4-3-7). Over his past 20 games, Verhaeghe has amassed 12 goals and 19 points (12-7-19). The Toronto, Ontario native’s eight total multi-point games and 18 even-strength points each rank tied for second-most on Florida with Sam Bennett.
BENNY AND THE CATS
Forward Sam Bennett has logged six points (2-4-6) over his past five games. He matched his career high with three assists Dec. 3 at SEA, and he logged his second multi-goal game of the season (2-0-2) Dec. 1 at VAN. He has amassed 17 points (6-11-17) over his past 16 contests. He also produced three assists while skating in his 500th NHL game Nov. 17 vs. DAL. Bennett’s five third-period tallies are tied for the team lead with Matthew Tkachuk. He has registered eight multi-point games this season, tied with Carter Verhaeghe for second-most on the team. The Holland Landing, Ontario native’s 86 shots on goal are third-most on Florida and his 71 hits lead Florida forwards.
‘HART OF GOLD
Forward Sam Reinhart notched an assist Dec. 8 vs. DET and posted a season-high seven shots on goal. He produced at least one point in five consecutive games (2-5-7) from Nov. 23-Dec. 1, tied for the longest point streak on Florida this season. He scored a powerplay goal in three consecutive games from Nov. 15-19, behind only Anthony Duclair and Evgenii Dadonov (4 games each) for the longest PPG streak in franchise history. Reinhart’s five power-play tallies are the most on Florida this season, and he has logged seven power-play points. He recorded his first two goals of the season Nov. 6 at ANA and led Florida with seven shots on goal in the game. He has produced 14 points (7-7-14) over his past 17 games. The West Vancouver, B.C. native scored the game-deciding goal in the shootout against James Reimer Nov. 3 at SJS.
OH WHAT A KNIGHT
Goaltender Spencer Knight earned at least one point in six consecutive decisions (3-0-3) from Nov. 19-Dec. 1. He has surrendered five goals over his past three starts since Dec. 1 for a .940 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average, the third-best SV% among goaltenders over that span (Dec. 1-Dec. 6). Knight appeared in his 50th NHL game Dec. 3 at SEA and earning his 30th NHL win Dec. 1 at VAN. His 49 games were the fewest games required to reach the 30-win mark with Florida in franchise history. Knight stopped all 40 Carolina shots he faced Nov. 9 vs. CAR to earn his third career shutout. The 21-year-old native of Darien, Conn., owns a 31-13-6 record over his first 50 NHL games.
MONTOUR OF DUTY
Brandon Montour skated in his 400th NHL game Dec. 10 at TBL. He has produced 22 points (5-17-21) through his first 26 games of 2022-23, including assists in two of his past four outings. With his assist Nov. 28 at EDM, he surpassed Aaron Ekblad (22 GP, 2021-22) for the fewest games to reach the 20-point mark in a season among Panthers blueliners in club history. Montour has notched an assist in seven of his past 13 games (0-7-7), and he has amassed 14 points (1-13-14) over his past 16 games. The Brantford, Ontario native leads Florida blueliners in assists and points. Montour’s seven points from Nov. 6-9 tied Bryan McCabe (1-6-7, March 3-6, 2010) for the most points in a two-game span by a Panthers defenseman in club history. He matched his career high with four points (1-3-4) Nov. 6 at ANA, also tying the franchise record for single-game points by a defenseman. He became the eighth blueliner in club history to post four points in a regular season game, and he skated a career-high 30:41 total time on ice Nov. 3 at SJS.
JUST THE TWO OF GUS
Defenseman Gustav Forsling scored a goal in consecutive games from Dec. 1-3 and he has produced three points (2-1-3) over his past six contests. He registered his 10th career multi-assist game (0-2-2) Nov. 26 vs. STL. All 10 of his multi-assist performances have come with Florida. Forsling has amassed 18 points (4-14-18) over 27 games in 2022-23, including 14 even-strength points which are the most among Panthers defensemen. Forsling notched an assist in five straight games (0-6-6) from Nov. 12-20, the longest assist/point streak of his career. He also posted a four-game assist/point streak earlier this season (1-4-5, 4GP Oct. 15-21). He logged a career-high seven shots on goal Nov. 1 at ARI. His 84 total shots this season are the most among Panthers blueliners.
WHAT ABOUT BOB?
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 33 of 35 shots from Dec. 6-8 for a .943 save percentage. He stopped 19 of 20 against DET on Dec. 8, and turned aside 14 of 15 WPG shots Dec. 6, including all 13 he faced at even strength. He stopped a season-high 41 shots for a .953 save percentage Nov. 15 vs. WSH. His 41 saves were his most since stopping 42 shots against Jan. 11 vs. VAN. Bobrovsky appeared in his 600th NHL game Nov. 5 at LAK, becoming the 53rd goaltender in league history to reach the mark. His 339 career wins are the most through a goaltender’s first 600 appearances in NHL history.
SUPER STAAL BROS.
Eric and Marc Staal have combined for seven assists over Florida’s past six games. Marc led Florida with a plus-three rating and four blocked shots Dec. 8 vs. DET, and Eric recorded a season-high six shots on goal Dec. 6 at WPG. The Thunder Bay, Ontario natives have combined for 2,361 total NHL games and 1,256 points.
THE LOMBERGHINI
Ryan Lomberg has produced a point two of his past five games (1-1-2). The 27-year-old native of Richmond Hill, Ontario has produced six points (3-3-6) in 2022-23, and he ranks second among Florida forwards in hits (36).
GOTTA GO TO MO’
Nov. 15 vs. WSH marked Paul Maurice’s 1,700th game as an NHL head coach, becoming the fourth in League history to reach the mark. He earned his 783rd win as an NHL head coach Nov. 9 vs. CAR, surpassing legendary bench boss Al Arbour for sixth-most in League history. He is one of three coaches to earn at least 300 wins with two different franchises. He is 12 wins away from achieving his 800th NHL win as a head coach.
