OTTAWA, ON – Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists and the Florida Panthers routed the Ottawa Senators 6-0 on Thursday night.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice moved into sole possession of fourth place on the NHL victory list with 865.
“I (once) thought, ‘If I could coach 500 games in this league, that would be something else,’ because I think the average number is about 250 or 350,” Maurice said. “I think you hit it and you go, ‘If I could get 500 wins, that would be something,’ and then you just start getting older. I have more fun coaching the game now than I ever have in my life.”
Nick Cousins, Dmitry Kulikov, Anton Lundell, Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart also scored to help Florida improve to 48-24-5.
“It took everybody, including obviously ‘Bob,’ but all four lines and everybody was in it today,” Lundell said. “It was a great team win.”
Joonas Korpisalo allowed four goals on 17 shots for Ottawa. Anton Forsberg gave up two on 14 shots in relief.
“Not much needs to be said,” Ottawa star Brady Tkachuk said. “That was embarrassing.”
With Florida up 5-0 to start the third, Tkachuk scored a power-play goal by tipping in Aleksander Barkov shot in front.
Florida padded its 2-0 lead by scoring three times in the second period.
Lundell, who was below the goal line, banked a shot off Korpisalo’s shoulder to make it 3-0 at 2:35. Less than two minutes later Tkachuk dropped a pass to a trailing Bennett, who beat Korpisalo to end the goalie’s night.
Forsberg came on in relief but, with just over two minutes remaining in the period, Reinhart scored his 53rd of the season.
The Panthers opened the scoring 1:02 into the game, with Cousins taking a pass in the slot and beating Korpisalo Kulikov made it 2-0 35 seconds later with a shot from just inside the blue line.
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Florida Panthers Left Wing Vladimir Tarasenko (10) before first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators Center Shane Pinto (57) battles Florida Panthers Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) while trying to control the puck during first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Florida Panthers Defenceman Niko Mikkola (77) blocks Ottawa Senators Right Wing Claude Giroux (28) during first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Florida Panthers Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) hugs the post with Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) looks to cut off any cross crease pass during first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Dominik Kubalik (81) exchanges words with Florida Panthers Winger Steven Lorentz (18) separated by Linesmen Bryan Pancich (94) during first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Florida Panthers Center Aleksander Barkov (16) talks to Referee Cody Beach (45) after first period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Tyler Kleven (43) follows through on a pass during second period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Brannstrom (26) after a scrum during second period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Dominik Kubalik (81) battles Florida Panthers Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) in front of Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during third period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 04: Florida Panthers Right Wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) after a whistle during third period National Hockey League action between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators on April 4, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
