Tkachuk brothers make history as Panthers rout Blue Jackets 7-3
Brady Tkachuk scored three straight goals in the second period as Florida beat Columbus 7-3 on Tuesday night, NHL.com reported. His brother Matthew set up all three. Reuters said Matthew is the first player to assist on every goal of a brother's natural hat trick.
Brady Tkachuk scored three goals in a row in the second period, and his brother Matthew set up every one of them. The Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3 on Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio, NHL.com reported.
A natural hat trick means one player scores three straight goals in a game, and Brady scored his in a span of 8:03, which included two power-play goals, according to NHL.com. They were also his first three goals of the season.
Matthew finished with five assists, Reuters reported. He is the first player to assist on each goal of a brother's natural hat trick, according to Reuters. Both brothers ended the night with four points, which tied a career high for each of them.
The Tkachuks are only the third set of brothers in the past 40 years to each record four or more points in the same game, NHL.com said. Matthew also set a team record with four assists in one period.
"It's something that, of course, you kind of always dream of happening," Brady Tkachuk said, according to NHL.com. "I'm just more happy with the two points for the team."
Florida acquired Brady in a June trade with the Ottawa Senators, and he had recorded only one assist for his new team before Tuesday's game.
"He and his brother played together their whole lives as kids, and there's something there for sure," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, NHL.com reported.
Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe each scored twice for Florida, and Seth Jones had four assists, ESPN and Reuters reported. The Panthers scored on four of their six power plays. Akira Schmid made 24 saves in goal.
Columbus took an early lead on a goal by Kent Johnson, but the Blue Jackets have now lost three of their last four games, ESPN reported.
"Too many penalties, not good enough on the kill. They picked us apart," Columbus forward Mathieu Olivier said, NHL.com reported. Olivier took a five-minute major penalty for slashing in the second period.
What we know: Brady Tkachuk scored a natural hat trick, and Matthew assisted on all three goals in a 7-3 Florida win.
What we don't: When Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom, listed as day-to-day, will return.
Where outlets agree ESPN and Reuters both report that Brady Tkachuk scored a natural hat trick and that Matthew Tkachuk had five assists in Florida's 7-3 win.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.