Raleigh, NC – Matthew Tkachuk scored with 12.7 seconds left in the fourth overtime. Florida Panthers won 3-2 against Carolina Hurricanes Thursday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals
It was the longest game in franchise history for both teams and the sixth longest contest in NHL history.
Following incredible goaltending performances from Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Carolina’s Frederick Andersen, Tkachuk batted in a bouncing puck for his sixth goal of the playoffs. panthers Improved to 5–0 in overtime games this season
Alexander Barkov and Carter Verheeghe scored in the second period. panthers, Anthony Duclair assisted on both regulation goals, and Barkov had two points.
Bobrovsky made 63 saves.
Seth Jarvis and Stephen Nossen storm, Anderson stopped 57 shots for Carolina, 3-0 in OT contests this season
It was the first game to go beyond an overtime for both teams this spring. It was the longest Stanley Cup playoff game since the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3–2 in five OTs on August 11, 2020.
The game ended on Friday at 1:54 AM. storm will host the second game of the best-of-seven series on Saturday
panthersPlayed in conference finals game since 1996, won seventh time in eight road games this season
Florida’s Ryan Lomberg scored the winning goal 2:35 into the first overtime, but the play was overruled after a video review ruled that Colin White had goaltender interference.
In the second overtime, both teams made 10 shots on goal. Anderson fouled Florida’s Brandon Montour, who was left alone in front of the net, early in the third overtime.
panthers took an 11-8 lead in third-OT shots
Noesen’s tying goal came 3:47 into the third period, giving him four goals on the season. The shot was part of Carolina’s 9–1 lead in the first nine minutes of the third.
storm outscored Florida 14-2 in the third period after panthers pulled ahead late in the second
Barkov tied the game at 1–1 with 5:32 remaining in the second period with his third goal.
Veraghe’s goal came with 2:17 left in the second period. His sixth of the playoffs lifted him into a tie for the team lead.
Jarvis, who was alone in the slot, posted his fifth goal of the playoffs on the power play with 11.1 seconds to play in the opening period. Sebastian Aho’s pass connected with Jarvis.
storm Forward Tuvo Terveinen was in action for the first time since Game 2 of the first round when he sustained a broken hand against the New York Islanders.
–Bob Sutton, Field Level Media