Verhaeghe Lifts Florida Past Dallas in 4-3 Overtime Win

Carter Verhaeghe was the star of the show for the Florida Panthers on Saturday night. The 25-year-old scored a hat trick, and registered the game-winning assist in a 4-3 overtime win over the Dallas Stars.

Game Recap

It took only 24 seconds for Verhaeghe to open scoring in the game. However, Dallas was not pleased and scored two goals in two minutes, later in the period. Verhaeghe wrapped up the period, with another goal, to make the game 2-2. At the end of the first period, Florida lead Dallas in shots, 9-8. In contrast, the second period and third period did not have as many goals. Late in the second, Verhaeghe scored the first short-handed goal of his career, to notch the hat trick. This put Florida up 3-2. Quickly into the third, Dallas’ Joel L’Esperance scored his first goal of the season. Regulation would carry on to finish 3-3, as Dallas would dominate the third period.

Finally, a crazy 3-on-3 overtime period arrived. Late in the 3-on-3, Ekblad appeared to win the game for Florida when he beat Stars goalie Anton Khudobin on a two-on-one rush. The problem: The goal was reviewed and overturned on replay because Ekblad entered the zone offside, negating the goal and continuing the overtime period. It was only a temporary delay for Ekblad and the Panthers, because just 36 seconds later, and with less than 10 seconds to play in the period, he scored a legal goal to win it.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 31 out of 34 shots in his best game of the week. Not only did Bobrovsky collect his 13th win, but he also snapped a three-game losing streak.

Takeaways

• With a three-goal, four-point (3-1-4) performance against Dallas, Carter Verhaeghe set a career-high for points in a game and registered his second career hat trick, and first with the Cats (last: Jan. 7, 2020).
• Carter Verhaeghe is the third player in Florida Panthers history to score a hat trick that included an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal. The others: Colton Sceviour (Oct 30, 2016 at DET) and Nathan Horton (Dec 14, 2009 at NYI).
• Keith Yandle became just the third player in NHL history to skate in at least 900 consecutive games played, joining Doug Jarvis (964) and Garry Unger (914).

Up Next

The Florida Panthers will face the Dallas Stars on Sunday at 6:00 PM EST.