ESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsOct 17, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsSUNRISE, Fla. — Carter Verhaeghe had a history-making natural hat trick, Sam Bennett scored his first three goals of the season and the Florida Panthers rolled past the Seattle Kraken 8-3 on Saturday night.The Panthers became the first team in NHL history with natural hat tricks in three consecutive games, after Brady Tkachuk had them in wins over Columbus on Tuesday and Vancouver on Thursday. Florida also became only the third team in 30 years to have a hat trick — of any variety — in three consecutive games. According to NHL Stats, the 1992 Calgary Flames and 1982 Edmonton Oilers each had stretches of four straight games with hat tricks.With four hat tricks already this season — all coming in the past three games — Florida has matched its total from the past three regular seasons combined. Niko Mikkola and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Panthers on Saturday, and Matthew Tkachuk had three assists.Frederick Gaudreau, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans had goals for Seattle, and Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton each had two-assist games.Verhaeghe got his first two goals of the night 1:11 apart late in the first period, then scored again with 13:58 left in the second to push Florida’s lead to 4-1.
Bennett opened the scoring for Florida just 1:05 into the game, and he added goals in the second and third periods.Former Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich made his return to Florida after joining the Kraken this offseason.Samoskevich scored 27 goals in 156 games with Florida over the past three seasons, getting his name on the Stanley Cup after the Panthers won their second consecutive title in 2025. Florida traded him to Seattle in June for a pair of picks, one of which was used that same day to help complete the Panthers’ trade with Ottawa for Brady Tkachuk.Samoskevich had three goals and an assist for the Kraken in their first seven games.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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