SUNRISE, Fla. — The news was not that the Islanders, with three defensemen and a top forward hurt, and a goalie making his NHL debut, had their season-high seven-game winning streak snapped. Rather, it was that they were tenacious enough to have hopes of extending it.

The reality of their situation hit a whole lot harder after the Islanders’ 6-3 defeat to the Panthers on Sunday in which they nearly rallied to yet another absurd victory before finally

Carter Verhaeghe had his fourth career hat trick, Sam Reinhart scored his 31st goal and the Florida Panthers beat New York 6-3 on Sunday night to end the Islanders’ winning streak at seven games. Verhaeghe added an assist on Matthew Tkachuk’s empty-netter for a four-point night.

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers will close the book on another back-to-back when they host the New York Islanders for a battle at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday. Winning each of the first two games on their three-game homestand, the Panthers enter tonight’s matchup sitting first in the Atlantic Division with a record of 31-19-3.

Scott Mayfield exited in the second period, however, marking the third time in six games a defenseman could not finish the game.