Panthers score team-record 7 goals in 1st, top Canadiens 9-5

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Teammates celebrate with Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) after he scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe scored twice in Florida’s franchise-record, seven-goal first period and the Panthers beat the Montreal Canadiens 9-5 on Thursday night.

Florida scored six goals in the second period against Boston on April 5, 2000. Against Montreal, the Panthers came just shy of tying the franchise record for goals in a game set in 1997, going scoreless in the third period.

The teams combined for 10 first-period goals to tie the NHL record for goals in a first period. It also was the fastest first 10 goals in an NHL game, with Florida getting the 10th goal at 13:18.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Florida Panthers left wing Ryan Lomberg (94), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Aaron Ekblad also scored twice for Florida, helping the Panthers pull within three points of the final wild-card spot. They are 4-0-1 in their last five.

Ekblad, Colin White, Gustav Forsling, Ryan Lomberg and Sam Reinhart also scored for Florida as the Panthers led 7-3 after one. Florida padded its lead with goals from Ekblad and Matthew Tkachuk in the second period.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Fans celebrate after Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) scored a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson scored 16 seconds in, and Florida led 2-1 just over three minutes later.

Michael Pezzetta, Rem Pitlick, Anthony Richard and Rafael Harvey-Pinard also scored for Montreal.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves for Florida.

Montreal replaced goalie Sam Montembeault after Florida scored three goals on its first six shots of the game. Jake Allen came in and ended up giving up six goals on 17 shots before Montreal brought back Montembeault to finish the game.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Florida Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura (28) goes down as he battles with Montreal Canadiens right wing Alex Belzile (60) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

NOTES: Florida is the first NHL team to score seven goals in the first period since the Hartford Whalers on Oct. 19, 1985. … Florida sent G Alex Lyon to its AHL team in Charlotte to get some playing time this weekend. The Panthers brought up Mack Guzda to backup Bobrovsky.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) carries the puck past Montreal Canadiens left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

UP NEXT

Canadiens: At Tampa Bay on Saturday night.

Panthers: Host New Jersey on Saturday night.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://www.twitter.com/AP_Sports