Verhaeghe scores again, Panthers close out homestand with 4-1 win over Islanders

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Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice stands behind players left wing Noah Gregor (18), center Luke Kunin (71), center Carter Verhaeghe (23), and defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) — Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice stands behind players left wing Noah Gregor (18), center Luke Kunin (71), center Carter Verhaeghe (23), and defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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7:34 PM on Sunday, December 7

By TIM REYNOLDS

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe stayed red-hot with his sixth goal in his last six games, Seth Jones scored for the second consecutive game and the Florida Panthers closed a homestand by topping the New York Islanders 4-1 on Sunday.

Uvis Balinskis got a rare goal for the Panthers, who finished off a three-game, four-day stint with five points — going 2-0-1. Florida wrapped up a stretch where it played 11 out of 12 games at home, going 5-5-1 in those home contests.

Sam Reinhart added an empty-netter for Florida.

Mathew Barzal got his ninth goal for the Islanders, who had won three straight and were 7-1-0 in games when he had scored this season. No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer had an assist on that goal, giving him 21 points through 30 games of his rookie season.

Balinskis sent the puck toward the net from the left point and it sailed past screened Islanders goalie David Rittich for a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal of the season for Balinskis and just the seventh of his career — including playoffs — in 126 NHL games.

Verhaeghe made it 2-0 at 7:05 of the second period off an assist from Jeff Petry. Verhaeghe — who got his 146th goal as a member of the Panthers, breaking a tie with Stephen Weiss for seventh on the team's all-time list — has six goals and five assists in his last six games, by far his most productive stretch of the season.

Jones made it 3-1 with 6 minutes left, scoring for the second straight game — the first time he's done that as a Panther.

The Islanders fell to 3-10-0 in games where they score two goals or fewer this season.

Up next

Islanders: Host Vegas on Tuesday.

Panthers: Visit Utah on Wednesday.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL