Panthers’ hat-trick history and Caufield heroics – Atlantic Division roundup

It was a busy night in the Atlantic, with the Panthers piling up goals and history, the Canadiens needing overtime again, and the Maple Leafs sliding right back to the bottom of the division.

Panthers stay hot and make hat-trick history

The Florida Panthers pummelled the Seattle Kraken 8-3 to reach 12 points through nine games (5-2-2) and stay firmly in the early-season race. As Daily Faceoff notes, Florida became the first NHL team ever to record a natural hat trick in three straight games, and the first team in more than 100 years to tally at least four hat tricks in its first 10 games. According to Sportsnet, Carter Verhaeghe delivered the natural hat trick against Seattle.

Caufield wins it for Habs, Suzuki line steps up

At the Bell Centre, the Montreal Canadiens once again needed bonus hockey, edging the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime. Cole Caufield provided the winner, as highlighted by Sportsnet and La Presse, grabbing two key points for Montreal, which moves to 9 points in eight games (4-3-1). Sportsnet describes it as a dominant outing for the line of Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Caufield, the kind of performance the Canadiens have been looking for since reuniting that trio.

In goal, the debate is far from settled. Eyes on the Prize points out that Jakub Dobeš’s early-season struggles have reopened the long-running conversation about Montreal’s starting goaltender.

Leafs in last again, Bruins and Bolts roll on

In Toronto, the skid continues. The Maple Leafs fell 4-1 at home to the Islanders. Sportsnet notes it was their third straight loss and that the result drops Toronto to last place in the Atlantic Division with 8 points in nine games (3-4-2), the same spot they finished in 2025–26. Sportsnet also reports the Leafs would be willing to move a prime asset to land a difference-maker on the blue line.

At the top of the table, the Boston Bruins stayed first thanks to a 4-1 win over the Kings, pushing them to 14 points in nine games (7-2-0). The Tampa Bay Lightning sit two points back after a 4-2 victory over the Canucks, a game in which Vancouver blew a two-goal lead according to Sportsnet. Florida shares the same points total as Tampa and Ottawa (12), but the Senators missed a chance to climb with a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia, where Sportsnet says Thomas Chabot left the game with an apparent injury.

In Detroit, the Red Wings pulled out a 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks, bringing their total to 8 points in eight games (3-3-2), tying a sliding Leafs team that is suddenly searching hard for answers.