Hats Off: Verhaeghe's Natural Hat Trick Caps Panthers' NHL-Record Night in 8-3 Kraken Rout

SUNRISE, Florida — Carter Verhaeghe's natural hat trick came early in the second period Saturday night as the Panthers made NHL history in an 8-3 rout of Seattle.

With Verhaeghe's feat — following Brady Tkachuk's natural hat tricks in the previous two games — the Panthers became the first NHL team with natural hat tricks in three straight games. Sam Bennett added a hat trick of his own, the first time in franchise history two Panthers scored three goals in the same game.

Four hat tricks in three games — matching Florida's total from the past three regular seasons combined. And this offense may only be getting started.

Three nights, three natural hat tricks

A natural hat trick — three consecutive goals by one player, uninterrupted — is rare enough; no NHL team had ever seen it in three straight games.

The streak began with Brady Tkachuk's natural hat tricks against Columbus on October 13 and Vancouver on October 15. No NHL player had ever scored three consecutive hat tricks; Tkachuk fell one short, held without a goal Saturday despite several chances and settling for two assists.

"You can thank Brady for that," Verhaeghe said, nodding to the teammate whose scoring binge started the run.

After Bennett and Wright exchanged early goals, Verhaeghe took over. He snapped a 1-1 tie at 17:56 of the first, one-timing a loose puck along the left-wing boards over Daccord's shoulder into the far upper corner.

His second came at 19:07 on the power play, 1:11 later: Brady Tkachuk fed him across the crease and Verhaeghe lifted it over the sliding Daccord.

The record fell at 6:02 of the second, when Verhaeghe pounced on a Mikkola wraparound rebound and slid it past Daccord for 4-1.

The rout, goal by goal

But the night belonged to the whole attack. Bennett opened the scoring 1:05 in, batting in a floating puck, and completed his hat trick in the third with his first three goals of the season and 400th career point.

"It was just one of those nights, getting some bounces," Bennett said. "The puck just seemed to follow us around. We did a great job on the forecheck, putting them under a lot of pressure."

Mikkola went bar down at 6:42 to make it 5-1, and Reinhart also scored. Matthew Tkachuk had three assists to stretch his point streak to eight games (14 points). "He's been unbelievable," Bennett said. "He's on top of his game right now."

For Seattle, Wright, Gaudreau and Evans scored; Catton and Kakko each had two assists. Daccord stopped 29 of 37 as the Kraken closed a five-game road trip at 3-1-1; Markstrom made 20 saves.

The Kraken were without defenseman Brandon Montour, hurt in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. Former Panther Mackie Samoskevich returned to Sunrise after Florida traded him to Seattle in June for picks — one of which helped land Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa that same day.

What the history books say

The record stands alone in the NHL. But Florida is only the third team in 30 years with a hat trick of any variety in three straight games; per NHL Stats, the 1992 Flames and 1982 Oilers each had four-game stretches.

Context: the two-time defending champions' offense is bending league history — four hat tricks in three games equals Florida's output across the previous three regular seasons combined.

Florida's third straight win lifted the Panthers to 5-2-2. The only downside: Matthew Tkachuk left early after colliding with Bennett, though Maurice called it precautionary.

What comes next

The question for the rest of the league: who stops this? The Panthers are scoring in waves — Verhaeghe's fifth career hat trick the exclamation point.

Seattle heads home after a respectable 3-1-1 trip, minus Montour and with questions in goal. The puck is following Florida around — and the hats are following the puck.

TL;DR

• Carter Verhaeghe's natural hat trick powered the Panthers to an 8-3 rout of the Seattle Kraken on October 17 at Amerant Bank Arena.
• Florida became the first NHL team ever with natural hat tricks in three consecutive games, following Brady Tkachuk's pair against Columbus (Oct 13) and Vancouver (Oct 15).
• Sam Bennett also scored a hat trick — the first time in Panthers history two players had three goals in the same game — and picked up his 400th career point.

Key points

• Verhaeghe scored at 17:56 and 19:07 of the first and completed the natural hat trick at 6:02 of the second.
• Bennett opened the scoring 1:05 in and added second- and third-period goals for his first three of the season.
• Matthew Tkachuk had three assists, extending his point streak to eight games (14 points); he left early after colliding with Bennett, which Maurice called precautionary.
• Mikkola and Reinhart also scored for Florida; Markstrom made 20 saves.
• Seattle's goals came from Wright, Gaudreau and Evans; Daccord stopped 29 of 37.
• Florida is only the third team in 30 years with a hat trick in three straight games (any variety); the 1992 Flames and 1982 Oilers each had four-game stretches.
• Four hat tricks this season matches Florida's total from the past three regular seasons combined; the Panthers improved to 5-2-2 with their third straight win.