Florida scored six unanswered goals inside the match’s first 22 minutes, and the Panthers — the NHL’s road warriors — humbled the Tampa Bay Lightning 9-2 on Saturday to stretch their road winning streak to 11 games.
Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett totaled two goals and two assists apiece, while Brandon Montour recorded a tally and two helpers.
Carter Verhaeghe hit the net twice and added an assist, and Gustav Forsling (assist) and Kevin Stenlund scored. The nine goals were the Panthers’ most in a road game.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for his 27th win as the Panthers improved to 18-3-2 in the past 23 contests.
Anton Lundell registered an assist for his 100th career point.
By winning and moving into first place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins, Florida became the sixth team in history to reach 11 straight road wins, one from matching the NHL record.
At 20-7-2 away from home, Florida suffered its last road loss on Dec. 18, a 3-1 setback at the Calgary Flames.
The Stanley Cup runners-up improved to 19-4-3 against the Eastern Conference and 8-1-3 within division play.
Brandon Hagel scored his 20th goal and Brayden Point tallied, but Tampa Bay’s eight-game home winning streak was broken.
Andrei Vasilevskiy surrendered six goals on 22 shots in two periods. Backup Jonas Johansson made five saves.
The top line of Steven Stamkos, Point and Nikita Kucherov finished minus-11.
Just 24 seconds into the second matchup between the in-state foes, Hagel slid in his goal on the game’s first shift, but the rivals from down south responded four times in the period’s remainder as the dam quickly burst around the Lightning net.
After Bennett won a draw, Montour floated in his third goal at 7:01.
Tkachuk then corralled a puck and sent a pass to Bennett, who one-timed a missile at 12:28.
Stenlund added to his career high in goals when he potted his ninth over five minutes later.
On Forsling’s eighth goal with 1:22 left in the frame, Tampa Bay challenged for goaltender interference, but it received a delay of game after the goal was upheld.
With the man advantage carried over, Tkachuk sent a pass that the Lightning’s Erik Cernak inadvertently netted just 23 seconds into the second.
Tkachuk posted his 20th goal — another power-play tally — at 1:37 for an overwhelming 6-1 advantage.
In the third, Verhaeghe scored twice, giving him 30, and Bennett logged his 13th. Point added his 27th on the power play.
–Field Level Media
