Brady Tkachuk’s first goal in a Florida Panthers uniform was already going to be a memorable moment. What followed turned it into one of the most remarkable performances of his NHL career, with his older brother Matthew playing a central role in every goal.
Brady recorded a natural hat trick in just over eight minutes during the second period Tuesday night, helping the Panthers defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-3 at Nationwide Arena. Matthew assisted on all three goals, making the brothers the first in NHL history to combine for a natural hat trick in which one brother assisted on every goal. (NHL)
The performance marked a significant breakthrough for Brady, who joined Florida in a June 23 trade from the Ottawa Senators. After recording just one assist through his first six games with the Panthers, the 27-year-old forward finally found the back of the net, and wasted little time adding two more.
Columbus entered the second period holding a 1-0 advantage following Kent Johnson’s first-period goal. However, the momentum shifted almost immediately when Matthew found Brady in the high slot for his first goal as a Panther just 2:27 into the period.
Less than four minutes later, the brothers connected again. With Florida operating on the power play, Matthew delivered another pass into the slot, allowing Brady to finish the opportunity and give the Panthers a 2-1 lead at the 6:00 mark.
The third goal came at 10:30, once again with Florida on the man advantage. Brady capitalized on a rebound near the net, completing the natural hat trick in a span of just 8 minutes and 3 seconds.
It was the fourth hat trick of Brady’s NHL career and the third-fastest in Panthers franchise history. He also became just the eighth player in team history to record a natural hat trick. (Florida Hockey Now)
While Brady supplied the finishing touch, Matthew’s playmaking was equally impressive.
The older Tkachuk brother finished the night with five assists, matching his career high and becoming the first player in Panthers history to record four assists in a single period. His contributions extended beyond Brady’s hat trick, as he also helped set up goals from Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.
Together, the brothers combined for nine points, becoming the first pair of brothers playing as teammates to accomplish that feat in a single NHL game since Henrik and Daniel Sedin did so for Vancouver in 2015. (Bleacher Report)
The offensive explosion was particularly encouraging for a Florida team that had struggled to establish consistency in the opening weeks of the season. Entering Tuesday, the Panthers had lost four of their previous five games, making the convincing victory over Columbus a much-needed response.
Florida also received two goals apiece from Verhaeghe and Reinhart, while defenseman Seth Jones contributed four assists. The Panthers finished 4-for-6 on the power play, overwhelming a Columbus penalty kill that struggled throughout the contest.
Goaltender Akira Schmid made 24 saves as Florida improved to 3-2-2 on the season. (AP News)
Beyond the statistics, Tuesday’s performance offered an early glimpse of what the Tkachuk brothers could bring to Florida’s lineup.
Both players have established reputations as physical, highly competitive forwards capable of influencing games in several different ways. Matthew has already proven himself as a central figure in Florida’s success, while Brady arrived with years of experience as Ottawa’s captain and one of the NHL’s most recognizable power forwards.
Now playing alongside one another at the NHL level, the brothers have an opportunity to develop the kind of chemistry that could make Florida’s forward group even more difficult to defend.
For Brady, the hat trick also provided an emphatic answer to questions surrounding his quiet offensive start. After spending his entire NHL career in Ottawa before this summer’s trade, adjusting to a new organization and playing environment was always going to require some time.
Tuesday night suggested that adjustment may be gaining momentum.
The Panthers still have plenty of hockey ahead of them, but the sight of Brady scoring three consecutive goals with Matthew assisting on every one offered something Florida fans had been waiting to see since the brothers became teammates.
Brady Tkachuk’s first goal as a Panther was a milestone. By the end of the second period, it had become a piece of NHL history.
