Field Level Media
 | Reuters
2025 NHL storylines include Panthers, Ovechkin and Olympic hockey
The 2025-26 NHL season gets under way on Oct. 7. Sam Cardona-Norberg shares some key storylines.
Brad Marchand had two assists to reach 1,000 career points, and Seth Jones and Evan Rodrigues each scored their 100th career goal as the Florida Panthers defeated the Washington Capitals 6-3 on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Daniil Tarasov (1-3-1) made 37 saves for his first win as a member of the Panthers.
Washington’s Brandon Duhaime scored in his third consecutive game after ending a 14-game drought to start the season. Justin Sourdif and Rasmus Sandin also found the back of the net for Washington.
The Capitals also got 22 saves from Logan Thompson, who allowed a season-worst five goals. He had allowed either one or two goals in each of his first nine games this season but has now had a pair of shaky performances since.
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was held to just three shots and zero points.
The teams played to a 1-1 tie in the first period, with the two goals scored just 28 seconds apart.
With 8:25 expired in that opening period, Washington made it 1-0 on Duhaime’s tip-in off a shot by Rasmus Sandin as the puck sailed in over Tarasov’s blocker.
Florida quickly tied the score as Niko Mikkola’s shot left a long rebound. Rodrigues pounced from the high slot, beating Thompson stick side.
The Panthers took a 2-1 lead with 3:05 gone in the second on Cole Schwindt’s deflection of a Gustav Forsling shot.
Florida increased the lead to 3-1 at 14:41 when Sam Reinhart scored on a power play.
But the Capitals showed life, scoring just 52 seconds into the third period as Jakob Chychrun was left alone to attack the net before dishing to Sourdif for a tap-in goal.
Florida scored the next two goals — Sam Reinhart in the slot on a pass from behind the net by Anton Lundell, and Jones on a drive from the point that went in off the crossbar. Marchand drew his first assist of the night on the Jones goal.
Washington closed the deficit to 5-3 on Sandin’s goal with 7:20 left in the third with Ryan Leonard providing an effective screen.
Then, with 90 seconds left, Eetu Luostarinen scored an empty-net goal, assisted by Marchand, which gave the Panthers star his milestone point No. 1,000.