Monday Round-Up: Panthers Lose Fourth Straight, Hagel Ties NHL Record In Bolts Rout

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Lars Eller had two goals, Jakob Chychrun had a goal and two assists, and the Washington Capitals beat the reeling Florida Panthers 4-1 on Monday night.

Logan Thompson improved to 9-1-1 on the season and Dylan Strome got his 23rd assist for the Capitals, who improved to 6-1-0 in games immediately following a loss this season.

Thompson made 21 saves and has given up two goals or less in seven of his 11 appearances.

The Panthers lost for the sixth time in seven games and have just one win in their last five home games as well. Niko Mikkola got the goal for Florida and Spencer Knight made 27 saves.

Eller and Ivan Miroshnichenko had empty-netters to seal the win for the Capitals.

Takeaways

Capitals: The game was the start of the 15th “Mentors’ Trip” for Washington, one where the players and staff got to bring mentors on the road as a thank you for the roles played in their lives. The Capitals are now 19-9-0 when the mentors are in attendance.

Panthers: Sam Reinhart’s 13-game point streak — tied for the second-longest in club history — came to an end. Reinhart’s best chance might have been a straight-on shot from the slot with 6:59 left, but Thompson made the save.

Key moment

Chychrun’s goal with 18:42 left was the game-winner, and came with the Capitals enjoying a 5-on-3 advantage.

Key stat

Eller has scored in three games this season. And in all three of those games, he’s scored two goals.

Up next

The Capitals visit Tampa Bay on Wednesday. The Panthers host Toronto on Wednesday.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Hagel tied an NHL record with four assists in the opening period and finished with five as the Tampa Bay Lightning cruised past the Colorado Avalanche 8-2 on Monday.

Jake Guentzel scored twice while Mikey Eyssimont, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Nick Perbix, Anthony Cirelli and Luke Glendening also scored for Tampa Bay. Hagel tied a franchise record with five assists.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 23 shots.

Ivan Ivan scored both goals for Colorado, which had a three-game winning streak come to an end. Justus Annunen, who was pulled in the first period but returned for the third, allowed five goals on 16 shots. Alexandar Georgiev allowed three goals on 17 shots.

Takeaways

Avalanche: Colorado ended a four-game road trip with a record of 3-1. The Avalanche had won six of the previous seven games. … Ivan registered his first career multi-goal game.

Lightning: Cirelli scored for the sixth consecutive game to become the sixth player in franchise history to record a goal in at least six consecutive games, joining Steven Stamkos, Kucherov, Brian Bradley, Point and Vinny Lecavalier. … Zemgus Girgensons recorded his 100th career assist.

Key moment

After the Lightning jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Guentzel’s power-play goal 7:46 into the first, the Avalanche cut the deficit in half 70 seconds later. But Kucherov scored 1:07 later to regain the two-goal lead and chase Annunen, who allowed three goals on six shots in 10:03.

Key stat

Tampa Bay’s five goals in the first period marked the fourth time in franchise history the Lightning have scored five goals in the opening period, done most recently on Feb. 23, 2011, against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Up next

The Avalanche host Vegas on Wednesday and the Lightningwelcome Washington on Wednesday to end a three-game homestand.

(Canadian Press)