Matthew Tkachuk has goal and 3 assists, Panthers strike fast and top Senators 6-3

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Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3), left wing Tomas Nosek (92) and Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk, second from right, reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) — Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3), left wing Tomas Nosek (92) and Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Audio By Carbonatix

6:53 PM on Tuesday, March 31

By TIM REYNOLDS

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gregor scored eight seconds into the game to open an early five-goal barrage by Florida, Matthew Tkachuk had his first four-point game since December 2024 and the Panthers defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals and added an assist for Florida, while Seth Jones had three assists — including one on Gregor's history-making goal.

Gregor's goal was the fastest to open a game in Panthers history — two seconds ahead of Johan Garpenlov's goal at the 10-second mark of a game against Colorado in October 1996 — and the fastest to start a game in the NHL this season.

A.J. Greer and Mackie Samoskevich also scored for Florida, while Sam Bennett added two assists and Daniil Tarasov stopped 22 shots for the Panthers.

Drake Batherson, Jordan Spence and Michael Amadio scored for Ottawa, which has gone 0-2-1 in its last three games as it chases a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Linus Ullmark started and stopped 11 of 16 shots before getting chased after Florida took a 5-0 lead with 5:24 left in the first period.

James Reimer replaced Ullmark and stopped 12 of 13 shots.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and three assists in the game. It was the 25th time he's gone head-to-head in the NHL with his brother Brady Tkachuk, the Senators' captain; Matthew Tkachuk's teams have now won 15 of those meetings.

Linesman Brad Kovachik worked regular-season game No. 1,972 of his career — and it'll be the last. The veteran of three decades is retiring, ending a career that saw him work the Stanley Cup Final in five different years, as well as the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Players from both teams lined up to shake Kovachik's hand during a first-period stoppage in play.

Up next

Senators: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Panthers: Host the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl