Bennett and Verhaeghe hat tricks power Panthers past Kraken 8-3

Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe each scored three goals as the Florida Panthers beat the Seattle Kraken 8-3 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday, Oct. 17. Florida earned its third consecutive win.

Bennett opened the scoring at 1:05 of the first period. Shane Wright tied it for Seattle at 4:54, but Verhaeghe’s two late goals sent the Panthers into the intermission ahead 3-1. Verhaeghe completed his hat trick at 6:02 of the second period, and Niko Mikkola scored 40 seconds later.

Bennett added his second goal at 13:13 of the middle period. Frederick Gaudreau replied for Seattle before the intermission. Sam Reinhart and Ryker Evans traded third-period goals before Bennett completed his hat trick at 11:14.

Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves for Florida. Joey Daccord stopped 29 of 37 shots for Seattle. Matthew Tkachuk had three assists for the Panthers, while Berkly Catton and Kaapo Kakko each had two for the Kraken.

Seattle finished its five-game road trip with seven of the available 10 points. The Kraken will play six of their next seven games at home.