Panthers Push By Capitals

      The Florida Panthers outhustled the Washinton Capitals 6-3 at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday night. The Panthers were coming off a four-game road swing on the west coast. They began a stretch with 11 of their 12 games at home.

      Panthers center Brad Marchand collected his 1,000th NHL point of his career. Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin made his first appearance in Sunrise since setting the NHL all-time record for the most goals scored.

     Washington(8-8-1) busted out to a 1-0 lead at the 8:25 mark of the first period. Rasmus Sandin released a shot from the right point and Brandon Duhaime redirected it from the slot area past Daniil Tarasov for his third tally this season.

     Florida(9-7-1) answered back just 28 seconds later to tie it up 1-1. Sam Reinhart dumped the puck in from the red line. Niko Mikkola sent a shot from the left wing which was saved. Evan Rodrigues scored his fourth goal of the season on a snap shot from the high slot.

     In the second period, the Panthers leaped to a 2-1 lead at 3:05. Eetu Luostarinen zipped a pass from the right corner to Gustav Forsling on the right point. His shot was deflected in by Cole Schwindt from the inner right circle for his second goal of the year.

     The Cats added a power-play goal with 5:19 remaining in the second and led 3-1. Seth Jones made a square pass from the right point and Carter Verhaeghe rifled a shot from the left point which was stopped. Reinhart backhanded the puck in from the top of the crease for his ninth goal in 2025-26. 

     The Caps closed it to 3-2 when Justin Sourdif tipped the puck in the cage 52 seconds into the third period. The Panthers answered back with a goal by Reinhart and a power-play goal from Seth Jones before the midway point of the period for a two-goal margin 5-3.

     Sandin helped the Capitals cut the deficit to 5-3 with 7:20 to go on a snap shot. Florida would put the game away with 1:30 left on a Luostarinen empty-net goal from center ice off a feed from Marchand. It ended up being Marchand's 1,000th career point on the play.