Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad participated in his 800th career contest. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice coached his 2,000th NHL game, which is second all-time to Scotty Bowman. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky passed Curtis Joseph for seventh all-time in goalie victories with 455.
The Panthers were coming off a four-game Western Conference road trip. The Cats started off a two-game homestand. Cats forward Noah Gregor made his first NHL appearance since January 8.
Neither club scored during the first period. Florida(35-32-3) got on the scoreboard at the 2:32 mark of the second period for a 1-0 lead. Gustav Forsling cycled the puck around the boards from behind his own cage. Gregor streaked down the left side of the ice, went into the Seattle(31-29-10) zone and angled a pass from the top left circle. Nolan Foote tapped in a shot from the top of crease past Joey Daccord for his first goal of the year. It was the first tally for Foote in a Panthers jersey.
In the third period, the Cats expanded their lead to 2-0 at 5:16. Evan Rodrigues fired a one-time slap shot from the high slot which was blocked. Vinnie Hinostroza backhanded a shot from the low right circle that went off the shaft of Eetu Luostarinen's stick on the right side of the crease and into the net for his ninth goal of the campaign.
It became 3-0 for the Panthers at the 7:37 mark of the third. Carter Verhaeghe collected his 21st goal of the season when he banked a shot from the left corner off Daccord.
The Kraken answered back quickly 33 seconds later and trailed 3-1. Jordan Eberle slid a pass from the left point. Ryker Evans blasted a slap shot from the top of the zone. It bounced off the back wall and went off the left skate of Bobrovsky for his eighth goal in 2025-26.
The Cats reclaimed a three-goal margin 4-1 with 7:39 to go in the third. Gregor skated with the puck from the neutral zone to the left wing. His centered pass was redirected by Shane Wright in the crease area for his second goal this year.
Seattle mounted a comeback with three goals down the stretch to tie it up 4-4. Matty Beniers chalked up his 19th goal with 5:43 remaining, Eberle placed in an unassisted goal for his 23rd tally of the season with 3:36 to go and Bobby McMann ended up with his 24th goal this season with 3:22 left in the third period.
After no scoring in overtime, Florida was victorious in the shootout. Hinostroza converted on the Panthers second attempt with a backhand shot.
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