Panthers win 6th straight, defeat struggling Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS -- Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist for the Florida Panthers, who won their sixth straight game with a 4-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

Reinhart was named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game for the first time in his career earlier in the day.

“So well deserving with it,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “I’m very happy for Sam. He’s going to have so much fun up there, especially with it being his first one. I’m shocked that it’s his first one, to be honest. Hopefully he has an unreal time. He’s so well deserving of it.”

Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Montour had two assists for Florida (24-12-2). Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves.

The Panthers played the majority of the game with 10 forwards after captain Aleksander Barkov (upper body) and Evan Rodrigues (lower body) each left the game in the first period. Florida coach Paul Maurice said Barkov and Rodrigues will be evaluated Friday.

“One of my favorite games of the year,” Maurice said. “They come out hot. We’re behind it. First we got to right the ship. (The) power-play goal is important. Then you lose two-thirds of your top line. … The best part of the game was the bench, because they were up against it. They were cheering for each other. They’re pulling for each other. Just fun to be behind the bench.”

Pavel Dorofeyev scored, and Logan Thompson made 32 saves for Vegas (22-12-5), which has lost six of seven.

“We got to start playing harder,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said. “Right now, we need to simplify the game. Everybody’s got to play better. Twenty guys have to play better.”

Dorofeyev gave Vegas a 1-0 lead at 3:59 of the first period. Bobrovsky made the initial save on Stone's shot, but the rebound bounced out to Dorofeyev, who scored into an open net.

“I liked our start. We were ready to play and had some good looks,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Probably could have had more than a one-goal lead. That's OK. I mean, Bobrovsky is a good goaltender. He is going to make saves.”

Sam Bennett tied the game 1-1 with a power-play goal at 14:15. He scored from the right circle after Oliver Ekman-Larsson's slap shot from the point caromed to him off the end boards.

Tkachuk put Florida in front 2-1 at 6:15 of the second period, redirecting Montour's point shot on the power play.

Verhaeghe then extended the lead to 3-1 at 18:38 on a rebound in the right circle.

“He’s got a nose for the net,” Tkachuk said of Verheaghe. “I really enjoy playing with him. What’s underrated is his passing ability. I love playing to the opposite wing as him. We seem to find each other a lot. Hopefully our chemistry continues to build.”

Reinhart made it 4-1 at 5:23 of the third period with a one-timer on the power play. It was his 25th goal of the season.

“There's no secret we don't like these guys for what happened last year (in the Stanley Cup Final). That's human nature,” Tkachuk said. “Especially coming into this building where our team has not had success as of late and just really wanting to beat a team that kind of ruined our summer last year. I thought the two games that we played them have been two of our best of the season."

NOTES: Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel was also named to the All-Star Game. ... Florida, which also defeated Vegas 4-2 on Dec. 23, won here for the first time (0-7-1 in previous eight games).