Verhaeghe, Bennett each get hat tricks, Panthers roll past Kraken 8-3

Carter Verhaeghe delivered a history-making natural hat trick, while Sam Bennett scored his initial three goals of the season, as the Florida Panthers dominated the Seattle Kraken 8-3 in a Saturday night matchup. The Panthers achieved a first in NHL history, marking the first team to record natural hat tricks in three consecutive games, following wins over Columbus and Vancouver.

Florida also became just the third team in three decades to have a hat trick in three consecutive games. With already four hat tricks this season, all in the past three games, the Panthers have equaled the total from the last three regular seasons combined. Niko Mikkola and Sam Reinhart added to the Panthers' scoring, with Matthew Tkachuk contributing three assists.

Seattle's Freddy Gaudreau, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans scored, while Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton both chipped in with two assist games. Verhaeghe scored his first two goals in the first period, 1:11 apart, and added another with 13:58 left in the second, extending Florida's lead to 4-1. Bennett opened the scoring just 1:05 into the game, adding goals in the second and third periods.

Former Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich made a return to Florida after joining the Kraken this offseason, scoring 27 goals in 156 games for Florida over the last three seasons, including a Stanley Cup ring after the Panthers' second consecutive title in 2025. Samoskevich had three goals and an assist for the Kraken in their first seven games. The Kraken will host Detroit on Tuesday, while the Panthers will visit Ottawa on Wednesday.