MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal and added an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Saturday night.
Patrik Laine and Christian Dvorak — with his 100th career goal — also scored for Montreal. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves, including a windmill glove stop on Carter Verhaeghe late.
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Florida Panthers' Mackie Samoskevich (25) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Canadians' Jake Evans (71) looks on during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) is upended by Florida Panthers' Nico Sturm (8) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks back as Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) looks for the rebound in front of the net as Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends as Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) drives to the net against Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot by Florida Panthers' Seth Jones (3) as Canadiens' Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) as Panthers' Seth Jones (3) tries to defend during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) keeps an eye on the puck as Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Canadiens' David Savard (58) come in for the rebound during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) skates in to celebrate a goal by teammate Patrik Laine (92) against the Florida Panthers during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers' Uvis Balinskis (26) checks Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) into the boards during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault celebrates a win over the Florida Panthers with teammates Cole Caufield (13), Josh Anderson (17) and Brendan Gallagher (11) following third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Mackie Samoskevich scored for Florida, which lost for the second time in nine games. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 12 shots.
The Canadiens, who were coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to Seattle on Wednesday, remained within a point of being in playoff position with 71 points.
Laine opened the scoring with a power-play goal 5:15 into the game, ripping a wrist shot over Bobrovsky’s left shoulder for his 16th — and 13th with the man-advantage — in 36 games.
Alex Newhook appeared to make it 2-0 off a feed from Suzuki, but the goal was overturned after the Panthers challenged for goalie interference.
Caufield followed soon after with a goal at 15:56 of the first, before Samoskevich tied it in the second.
Dvorak deflected a point shot from David Savard to make it 3-1 at 8:11 of the third.
Canadiens: Montreal’s first line stayed hot, even though Nick Suzuki was held off the scoresheet. Caufield’s two points and Juraj Slafkovsky’s assist gave the top trio a combined 40 points in 10 games since Feb. 22.
Panthers: The defending Stanley Cup champions played their third consecutive game without Matthew Tkachuk (lower body), deadline acquisition Brad Marchand (upper body) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (suspension).
After Dvorak made it 3-1, Canadiens fans started doing the wave and chanting “Olé, Olé, Olé” for 10 minutes — including during an entire TV timeout.
Lane Hutson became the fourth-fastest defenseman to get 50 NHL assists. The rookie did it in 68 games, behind only Larry Murphy (62), Mark Howe (65) and Stefan Persson (66). Hutson is also the second-fastest player in Canadiens history to reach the mark after Vincent Damphousse (66).
The Panthers visit the New York Islanders on Sunday, and the Canadiens host the Senators on Tuesday.
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Florida Panthers' Mackie Samoskevich (25) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Canadians' Jake Evans (71) looks on during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) is upended by Florida Panthers' Nico Sturm (8) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks back as Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) looks for the rebound in front of the net as Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends as Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) drives to the net against Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot by Florida Panthers' Seth Jones (3) as Canadiens' Mike Matheson (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) as Panthers' Seth Jones (3) tries to defend during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) keeps an eye on the puck as Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Canadiens' David Savard (58) come in for the rebound during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) skates in to celebrate a goal by teammate Patrik Laine (92) against the Florida Panthers during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers' Uvis Balinskis (26) checks Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) into the boards during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault celebrates a win over the Florida Panthers with teammates Cole Caufield (13), Josh Anderson (17) and Brendan Gallagher (11) following third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
KOCANI, North Macedonia (AP) — A massive fire tore through an overcrowded nightclub in North Macedonia Sunday, killing 59 people and injuring 155 in a chaotic escape during a live concert. The tragedy drew messages of support from around the world but focused national attention on corruption in the small Balkan country as authorities detained 15 people.
The pre-dawn blaze in the eastern town of Kocani left mostly young people dead and injured due to burns, smoke inhalation and a stampede in the desperate effort to reach the building's single exit, officials said. People as young as 16 were among the injured, they said.
Videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting the ceiling followed by scenes of chaos inside the club, with young people running through the smoke as the musicians urged them to escape as quickly as possible.
“We even tried to get out through the toilet, to find bars (on the windows),” Marija Taseva, 19, told The Associated Press, describing the fire that erupted after watching a local pop group at Club Pulse. "I somehow managed to get out. I fell down the stairs and they ran over me, trampled me. ... I barely stayed alive and could hardly breathe.” She suffered an injury to her face.
Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said 15 people had been detained for questioning after a preliminary inspection revealed the club was operating without a proper license. He said that the number of people inside the club was at least double its official capacity of 250.
“We have grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption in this case,” he told reporters without elaborating.
Condolences poured in from leaders around Europe as well as from the office of Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for a month for double pneumonia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also sent messages of support. “I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Ukraine mourns alongside our (North) Macedonian friends on this sad day,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X.
Health Ministry officials said the government had accepted offers of assistance from several neighboring countries, including Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Turkey, where preparations were being made to receive patients with life-threatening injuries. Paramedics from Serbia and Bulgaria also traveled to North Macedonia to help with the local effort.
Throughout Sunday, relatives gathered in front of hospitals and city offices in Kocani, some 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of the capital, Skopje, begging authorities for more information. Resident Dragi Stojanov was informed that his 21-year-old son Tomce had died in the fire.
“He was my only child. I don’t need my life anymore. ... 150 families have been devastated," he said. “Children burnt beyond recognition. There are corpses, just corpses inside (the club). ... And the bosses (of organized crime), just putting money into their pockets.”
In Skopje, officials said the injured were to hospitals around the country, many being treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation. The effort was being assisted by multiple volunteer organizations.
The fire is the worst tragedy in recent memory to befall the landlocked nation, whose population is less than 2 million, and the latest in a slew of deadly nightclub fires around the world.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited burn victims at a hospital in Skopje and spoke to parents waiting outside the building.
“It's terrible ... hard to believe how this happened,” she said, her voice halting with emotion. “We must give these young people courage to continue.”
The fire caused the roof of the single-story building to partially collapse, revealing the charred remains of wooden beams and debris. Police cordoned off the site and sent in evidence gathering teams in an operation also involving state prosecutors.
Pyrotechnics have often been the cause of deadly fires in nightclubs, including the one at the Colectiv club in Bucharest, Romania, in 2015 in which 64 people died.
Associated Press writers from across Europe contributed to this report.
An aerial photograph shows the damaged roof of a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
An aerial photograph shows the site of a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
An injured man exits a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A woman cries outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
People wait outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman waits outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Women cry outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman is comforted outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
An injured man exits a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
People hug outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Relatives and survivors walk outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
An aerial photograph shows the site of a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Maria Taseva, a 19 years-old survivor, who said her sister died in the fire, sits outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Women cry and hug outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A man cries outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A woman cries outside a hospital in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in a nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A police officer inspects a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Police officers hold plastic bags on the site of a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a massive fire in the nightclub early Sunday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Police officers investigate a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Police officers block a road near a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Police officers block a road near a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
CORRECTS CITY TO SKOPJE - People wait in front of the hospital in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, after a massive fire in a nightclub in the town of Kocani. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Prosecutors arrive at the scene of a massive fire in a nightclub in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A person makes a telephone call in front of the hospital in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, after a massive fire in a nightclub in the town of Kocani. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
CORRECTS CITY TO SKOPJE - People wait in front of the hospital in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025, after a massive fire in a nightclub in the town of Kocani. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Macedonian Interior Minister Pance Toskovski speaks to media after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Police officers investigate a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Police officers investigate a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Police officers investigate a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Rescue workers stand in front of a club after massive fire broke out early Sunday in Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Kocani TV via AP)
Rescue workers stand in front of a club after massive fire broke out early Sunday in Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Kocani TV via AP)
