5 TAKEAWAYS: Panthers shut out Senators, claim first Presidents' Trophy

Even with stars like Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau resting up for the playoffs, the Panthers still managed to execute their game plan to perfection as Spencer Knight turned aside all 27 shots he faced during a 4-0 win over the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.

"It's a tribute to our group that whoever plays, we compete and we play hard," Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette said of the team's impressive effort in Ottawa. "We do the right things and we play the right way and we've bought into what we're trying to do. It was fun.
"I think it was as much fun for the guys that sat out to watch other guys have success. That's been them all year. They don't care who gets the attention or who gets the goals, everybody's happy for each other. I've said it a million times, but that's what makes this group really special."
That specialness is also shining through in the record books.
Becoming just the seventh team in NHL history to record 58 wins in a season, the Panthers, who sit at 58-17-6 with one game left on their schedule, also secured home-ice throughout the postseason and their first-ever Presidents' Trophy after the Predators defeated the Avalanche.
Heating up heading into the postseason, Florida has won 14 of its last 16 games.
"We're just trying to play our best and keep building our game," Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen said. "I think it's a good thing for when we start to get going into the playoffs."
After forcing a turnover in the offensive zone, Sam Bennett teed up Sam Reinhart for a goal from the slot to open the scoring and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 6:01 of the first period.
Following a scoreless second period, the Cats pounced in the third.
A mere 21 seconds after Bennett jumped on a rebound and scored to double the lead to 2-0 at 1:11, Luostarinen utilized some great defensive stickwork to create a 2-on-1 rush that eventually resulted in Carter Verhaeghe roofing a shot right over Filip Gustavsson to make it 3-0 at 1:32.
Adding one more for good measure, Verhaeghe scored again at 13:08 to make it 4-0.
"I think it kind of deflated them a little bit," Verhaeghe said of rapid scores to kick off the final frame. "They thought they were still in the game, and getting two quick ones like that and making it 3-0 put things out of reach. They played a hard game, give them credit for that."
Shutting the door all night long, Knight, who has gone 9-3-0 over his last 12 decisions, made nine of his 27 saves during the third period to complete his second shutout of the campaign.
"He was solid the whole game," Brunette said of the rookie netminder. "I'm proud of our group that we buckled down and kind of had a little bit of a checking mentality where we didn't give up a whole lot in the third period to make sure we got him the shutout. … I think going forward for Spencer to get that shutout in his last start and to see what happens later is great for him."
With 81 games down and one to go, the Panthers will make their final preparations for the playoffs when they close the book on their historic regular season at Montreal on Friday.
Here are five takeaways from Thursday's win in Ottawa…

1. REINO ROLLS ON

It's always good when you can turn defense into offense.
After some great stickwork to force a turnover in the offensive zone, Bennett sent a pass to Reinhart in the slot for a quick goal to break the ice and put the Cats up 1-0 in the first period.

"Our priority was to go hard at the D and they're going to turn pucks over, and they did," Luostarinen said of the team's forechecking mentality. "We got some goals off those."
Second on the Panthers in goals (33) and third in points (82), Reinhart has been heating up heading into the playoffs, tallying 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in his last 12 games.
Picked up in a savvy offseason trade with Buffalo, his 33 goals are the second-most ever by a player in their first season with the Panthers, trailing only Mike Hoffman's 36 goals in 2018-19.

2. BENNY BURIES ONE

After setting up Reinhart in the first period, it was Bennett's turn to score in the second.
Crashing the crease after Gustavsson denied a one-timer from Anthony Duclair, Bennett whacked the ensuing rebound into the exposed cage to double Florida's advantage to 2-0.

"Benny brings a lot to the table," Verhaeghe said of his hard-nosed teammate. "He has a bit of an edge, makes big hits and can score goals. Guys on the other team probably hate playing against him. He can definitely get under your skin. That's a huge role, especially in the playoffs."
In addition to upping his career-high goal total to 28, Bennett needs just one more point to achieve the first 50-point campaign of his career. Attacking Ottawa's net throughout the night, he finished tied with Verhaeghe for the most shots on goal against the Senators with four.

3. TWO FOR SWAGU

You could feel this breakout game coming.
After being robbed of a few would-be goals in recent games, Verhaeghe found the back of the net twice in the third period against the Senators to help the Panthers build a comfortable lead.

"Swagu was really good with [Maxim Mamin]," Brunette said. "They had pretty good chemistry. I thought Luosty played a really good offensive-distributing role. They were a really good line."
Overall, the new-look line of Verhaeghe, Mamin and Luostarinen combined for six points (two goals, four assists). Strong in the possession game, the Panthers led 12-10 in shot attempts and 8-6 in scoring chances when that line was deployed at 5-on-5, per NaturalStatTrick.com.

"Anyone you play with on this team is a really good player," Verhaeghe said. "You're lucky to play with anyone, but we had some good chemistry. Luosty was really good, and Mams, with his speed, was making a lot of plays. We're lucky that we got a couple [of goals]."
Steady up front all season, Verhaeghe has set career-highs in goals (24) and points (55).

4. THE RECALL KIDS

The Panthers got a nice boost from a few youngsters tonight.
Filling in for players like Barkov, Huberdeau and MacKenize Weegar, Cole Schwindt, Aleksi Heponiemi and Matt Kiersted were all called up from the AHL to suit up against the Senators.
"They all brought exactly what we needed," Brunette said. "They brought energy and they brought excitement. I think that's good for our group. It's a long season. That was Game 81, a game that probably doesn't mean a whole lot. To get that energy, I think, excited the guys."
Playing alongside a perfect mentor in future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton on the fourth line, Schwindt and Heponiemi each skated over 12 minutes, with Schwindt registering one shot on goal, one blocked shot and leading all Panthers forwards with a 63.16 CF% at 5-on-5 play.
Paired up with Robert Hagg on the blue line, Kiersted, who scored his first NHL goal back on Dec. 16, registered two hits, two blocked shots and two shots on goal over 19:43 of ice time.
"I think the guys that came in gave us a lot of energy and made a lot of plays," Verhaeghe said. "That kind of gave us a spark, especially in the first period."

5. A CLEAN SHEET

Knight has joined some pretty elite company.
By turning aside all 27 shots he faced in Ottawa, the 21-year-old joined Cats legend Roberto Luongo as the only two rookie goalies in club history to record multiple shutouts in a season.
Of his saves against the Senators, 10 were considered high-danger.

"Our goalies have been really good the whole season," Luostarinen said.
Earning victories in nine of his last 12 appearances, Knight will finish his first full season in the NHL with a 19-9-3 record, 2.79 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and two shutouts.