A record-setting performance by the captain … the first-ever win for a rookie NHL goalie … and an abundance of goals from a pair of defensemen — there was a lot for Florida Panthers fans to cheer on Friday night.
Indeed, Aleksander Barkov set a franchise record with five assists, and defensemen MacKenzie Weegar and Mike Matheson scored twice each to lead the host Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.
Panthers rookie goalie Sam Montembeault, making just his second NHL start, stopped 25 shots for his first win.
Meanwhile, Barkov leads the Panthers with 74 points, and Matheson is a productive defenseman with 24 goals in his three years in the league.