Matthew Tkachuk gets 3 points in Panthers win against Brady Tkachuk, Senators

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal and assisted on two others in leading the Florida Panthers to their fifth win in six games, 5-1 against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena.

Tkachuk extended his goal streak to six games in the victory. He will represent the United States in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20 -- along with his younger brother Brady, who scored Ottawa’s only goal.

“We’re looking forward to … this two weeks of playing together,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “I thought he played really well tonight, but it’s going to be way more fun to be on the same side as opposed to playing against him.”

Aleksander Barkov, who will captain Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (34-20-3).

Gustav Forsling, Sam Bennett, and Anton Lundell also scored for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves for his fifth win in his past six starts.

“I liked the way we got stronger as that game went on,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice, whose team had an 86-44 advantage in shots attempted. “We finished off the right way for the break. … We were playing all right, but not getting the results. We were OK, right where we want to be, and then [Tkachuk] becomes that catalyst to get us going.”

Linus Ullmark, who will play for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off, made 43 saves for the Senators (29-23-4), who have lost their past three.

This was the final game for each team before the 4 Nations Face-Off begins.

“I thought the second period, obviously, they turned the tide which a good team can do,” said Ottawa coach Travis Green, whose team had won five straight before coming to Florida and losing twice to the Tampa Bay Lightning and once to the Panthers.

“The game got away from us in about a 15-minute span. We turned some pucks over, lost some puck battles and some details. A good team is going to make you pay, and they did.”

Tkachuk and Barkov are among Florida's League-leading eight players competing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, including Bennett (Canada), Forsling (Sweden), Lundell (Finland), Sam Reinhart (Canada), Eetu Luostarinen (Finland), and Niko Mikkola (Finland).

“We’re happy in the way we’re going into this break,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “It’s coming at a great time for us. Everyone who has vacation for the next two weeks very much deserves it; the rest of the guys have some business to take care of. It’s going to be fun.”

Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring, giving Ottawa a 1-0 lead at 6:38 of the first. The Ottawa captain was wide open near the net when he took a pass from Drake Batherson and put a shot between the skates of Bobrovsky.

Not to be outdone, Matthew Tkachuk tied it in a four-goal second period for the Panthers.

At 6:18 of the second, Tkachuk made it 1-1 when he found himself in a similar spot as his brother. He took a pass from Reinhart and sent a wrist shot under the right arm of Ullmark.

The assist marked the 600th point of Reinhart’s NHL career.

“I’m on Year 1 of the longest deal I’ve been on,” said Reinhart, who signed an eight-year contract with the Panthers on June 30. “So, we have plenty of hockey left.’’

Florida took the lead at 11:36 of the second when Tkachuk’s fluttering point shot was knocked down in the slot by Barkov.

The Panthers made it 3-1 at 16:26, Forsling flying into the Ottawa zone and sending a wrist shot that went past the outstretched glove of Ullmark.

Bennett ended the scoring for the Panthers in the second, giving Florida a 4-1 lead at 17:58 of the period with a one-timer from the right dot off a feed from Tkachuk.

“That’s a good team that is fighting for the playoffs,” Bennett said of Ottawa. “They came out hard in the first, then we picked up our game and matched their intensity. Good win for us.’’

Lundell scored a shorthanded goal into an empty net on a Senators power play at 18:38 of the third for the 5-1 final.

“It was a good start getting up 1-0, but in the second, you give some of those skilled guys some odd-man rushes and they’ll make you pay,” Batherson said. “Each line can skate, they’re physical, and there’s not much room out there. You look at that team — we’re trying to play like that as well.”

NOTES: Ottawa had to play with seven forwards and 11 defenseman due to the upper-body injury to Shane Pinto which has caused him to miss the past two games. Pinto has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 46 games this season. … Tim Stutzle extended his career-high point streak to eight games which ties Batherson for longest by a Senators player this season (11 points; two goals, nine assists). … This was the 24th meeting between the Tkachuk brothers. Brady has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) and Matthew has 29 (eight goals, 21 assists). This was the third time both brothers scored in the same game. … Matthew Tkachuk’s teams (Calgary/Florida) are 14-9-1 against Brady’s Senators.