In a thrilling overtime battle, Carter Verhaeghe emerged as the hero for the Florida Panthers, scoring a stunning backhander just 2:59 into the extra period to secure a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. This pivotal win gives the Panthers a commanding 2-0 lead in their NHL first-round playoff series.
The Panthers started the game strong, controlling the pace and tempo. They opened the scoring at 6:16 with a goal from Sam Bennett, which the Lightning unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference. Vladimir Tarasenko extended the lead to 2-0 less than nine minutes later.
The Lightning, boasting a roster brimming with Stanley Cup veterans, showcased their poise in the second period. Braden Point halved the deficit just 48 seconds into the frame, while Steven Stamkos knotted the game at 2-2 with a patented one-timer at 5:48.
However, the Panthers suffered a setback when Bennett left the game early in the second period with an apparent upper-body injury. Despite his absence, the Panthers held off the Lightning’s persistent pressure, killing off a four-minute power play in the third period.
The Lightning continued to press for the winning goal in overtime, but Verhaeghe’s heroics extinguished their hopes. With assists from Matthew Tkachuk and Anton Lundell, Verhaeghe found space and lifted the puck over Andrei Vasilevskiy’s outstretched glove, sending the Panthers crowd into a frenzy.
Game 3 of the series shifts to Tampa Bay on Thursday, with the Panthers looking to close out the series and advance to the second round.
