The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes battled it out in a game that seemed like it would never end.
Just as the teams started heading for yet another extra period, Matthew Tkachuk pounced on his chance to finish off yet another overtime and pave the way to another victory for the Panthers in the playoffs.
Tkachuk beat Frederick Anderson in the final few seconds of the 4th overtime to give the Panthers a three-to-two victory over the Hurricanes in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final.
Tkachuk, with 12.7 seconds left, whipped a shot from the right circle past Anderson. Tkachuk went racing toward the center of the ice to celebrate with all of his teammates in what had turned into the longest game in the history of either franchise, as well as the 6th longest game in NHL history.
“Definitely, tired, but I think you’re less tired when you win,” Tkachuk said, adding: “I hope you guys and everybody else enjoyed that game because what I’m seeing is two really good teams fighting it out for every inch.”
