Florida Panthers rookie Cooper Black became the tallest goalie ever to play in a regular-season NHL game, according to ESPN, NBC New York and Newsday.

Black is listed at 6-foot-9, the outlets reported. That is 2 inches taller than the goalies who held the mark before him, ESPN and NBC New York said. They are Ben Bishop, Ivan Fedotov, Mads Sogaard and Mikko Koskinen, all listed at 6-foot-7.

Black made his first NHL start Thursday night in Pittsburgh, ESPN and NBC New York reported. The Penguins won 4-0, the outlets said.

Black, 25, is from Michigan, the outlets reported. He started playing at age 8, ESPN and NBC New York said. He grew 5 inches between his junior and senior years of high school, they reported.

Florida called Black up from its minor league team in Charlotte after Jacob Markstrom hurt his shoulder, the outlets reported.

Black was sharp early, the outlets reported. He stopped a shot by Kris Letang and a breakaway by Rickard Rakell, ESPN and NBC New York said. Then Nick Robertson beat him on the glove side.

Robertson is 5-foot-9, ESPN reported. He was the first player to score on a goalie a foot taller than him since 2019, ESPN said. Robertson scored twice in the game, Newsday reported.

Pittsburgh goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 25 shots for the shutout, Newsday reported.

"Cool experience to play against the guys, would have been nicer to win," Black said, according to ESPN.

Florida signed Black in 2024 as an undrafted free agent, ESPN and NBC New York reported. Last season in Charlotte, he went 25-13-4 with a .903 save percentage, they said.

"A man that size, it takes a long time to grow into that body," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, according to ESPN and NBC New York. Then he joked, "I think he's done."

What we know: Black is now the tallest goalie to play in an NHL regular-season game.
What we don't: How long he will stay in Florida's lineup.