Global Courant
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe found the back of the net in overtime to avoid a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 at home.
The Panthers had yet to lose in overtime in these playoffs and went 6-0 in golden goal situations heading into this period.
Verhaeghe kept the streak alive as he sniped the puck past Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill to the delight of the home crowd, who reacted accordingly.
The goal felt like a sigh of relief to Panthers fans in the stands and those watching at home, as a Florida loss would have put the Golden Knights one win away from the trophy.
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Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
As we’ve seen with these Panthers, the last wild card in the Eastern Conference, this postseason, one win can change a whole series.
Verhaeghe wouldn’t have had a chance to score the OT winner had it not been for Matthew Tkachuk getting in again with his 11th Stanley Cup Playoffs goal that tied the game at two late in the third period.
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With 2:13 left in the game, Florida had their net empty for the extra forward to get onto the ice. The Panthers have scored on numerous occasions in these scenarios, and Tkachuk found himself with the puck on his stick and tons of net to work with after Hill saved a first shot on goal.
Tkachuk stuck it in and just like that, the Panthers were back to work.
Florida fared better on Thursday to stay within reach of a victory after not faring so well in Games 1 and 2 in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights took a commanding lead with 12 goals to the Panthers’ four.
Alec Martinez #23 of the Vegas Golden Knights tends to the net against Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game Three of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the FLA Live Arena on June 8, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Brandon Montour came first on the lead for Florida to start the game and scored his seventh goal of the playoffs thanks to Tkachuk’s 13th assist and Marc Staal’s third.
However, the Golden Knights responded late in the first inning, with Mark Stone holding on for his eighth goal of the playoffs on a power play opportunity.
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In the second period, the Jonathan Marchessault, who seems to be scoring on the spur of the moment lately, marked his 13th goal of the playoffs on another power play for the Golden Knights. Superstar Jack Eichel had his 17th assist, while Stone got his 11th to give Vegas a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Better defense from Florida hampered the Golden Knights and they pounced (no pun intended) on their chance late in the third.
Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Was this the series-changing win the Panthers needed? Game 4 on Saturday will decide if that’s the case with puck drop at 8pm ET in Sunshine, Florida.
Scott Thompson is a sportswriter for Fox News Digital.
