SPENCER KNIGHT

The eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been set since before the All-Star break.

Panthers Senators Hockey Florida Panthers defenceman Lucas Carlsson (32) passes the puck out of the reach of Ottawa Senators center Dylan Gambrell (27) as Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) (Justin Tang)OTTAWA, Ontario — (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe scored twice and Spencer Knight stopped 27 shots for his second career shutout as the Florida Panthers beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Thursday night. “I think it was big,” Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette said of Knight’s performance. Give them credit — it was good.”Verhaeghe scored his second of the game midway through the period for his 24th of the season. At the other end of the ice, Knight was holding his own, stopping Auston Watson on a great chance.

Anton Lundell scored twice and the Florida Panthers extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 6-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings.

Anthony Duclair scored twice, Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and four assists, and the Florida Panthers romped to a 9-3 rout of the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Florida Panthers have matched the best 11-game start in NHL history.

Panthers Bruins Hockey Florida Panthers' Anthony Duclair, center right, celebrates his goal with Aaron Ekblad (5), MacKenzie Weegar (52) and Aleksander Barkov (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) (Michael Dwyer)BOSTON — (AP) — Charlie Coyle had the only score in the shootout and the Boston Bruins beat Florida 3-2 Saturday night, ending the Panthers’ season-opening winning streak at eight games. Anthony Duclair also scored for the Panthers, his sixth of the season, and Knight made 31 saves in his third start. Knight -- playing back on familiar ice in Boston, the city where he played his college hockey -- also saw his personal unbeaten streak end. REMEMBERING JIMMY HAYESThe Bruins and Panthers honored former player Jimmy Hayes by wearing special warmup jerseys with “Haysey” and “Broadway,” his two nicknames.

Charlie Coyle had the only score in the shootout and the Boston Bruins beat Florida 3-2 Saturday night, ending the Panthers’ season-opening winning streak at eight games.

Caufield was dominating college hockey just two months earlier and suddenly at age 20 had become a key player for the NHL's most storied franchise. “There is nothing better for a lineup than young energy entering the locker room and being able to add some speed and young legs into the lineup. “We are starting to get a lot of accolades now at the college game of what’s going on here and how these kids are developing,” Motzko said. “If these kids are coming out much more ready-made than they were before, that’s just a bonus to the NHL team,” Starman said. “When a guy like Caufield can jump into the Montreal Canadiens lineup and add that type of energy to a team, Corey Perry gets better, Eric Staal gets better, Shea Weber gets better, Carey Price gets better because this young hungry kid’s flying around,” Granato said.

Montreal's Cole Caufield is the best of a handful of college hockey stars who went from playing at the NCAA level this season to jumping right into the NHL playoffs.

Andrei Vasilevskiy wrapped up a series with a Game 6 shutout for the second straight time, stopping 29 shots in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night.

SUNRISE, Fla. — (AP) — The Florida Panthers entrusted their season to a rookie goalie making his playoff debut. The 20-year-old Knight stopped 36 shots, Mackenzie Weegar had a goal and an assist, and the Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Monday night in Game 5 of their Central Division playoff series. But Knight — the third different goalie to start for Florida in this series — stymied the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Knight was 4-0-0 after turning pro following his sophomore season at Boston College and signing with the Panthers. Knight stopped each of the last 36 shots he faced.

The Florida Panthers entrusted their season to a rookie goalie making his playoff debut.