Tkachuk ends sixth longest game in NHL history, Panthers edge Hurricanes 3-2 in fourth overtime – Winnipeg Free Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk beat Frederik Andersen in the final seconds of the fourth overtime to give the Florida Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes early Friday at the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Tkachuck received a feed from Sam Bennett after Florida won a battle for the puck when Carolina tried to clear the puck, then hit a shot from the right circle past Andersen with 12.7 seconds left.

That sent Tkachuck running to center ice to celebrate with his teammates in what became the longest game in either franchise history, as well as the sixth longest game in league history. NHL.

Florida won its seventh straight road game in these playoffs and improved to 5-0 in overtime. Game two is Saturday night in Raleigh.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe scored in regulation for the Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky made a whopping 63 saves in what became a goaltending battle as play became more erratic as players racked up time. of ice.

Andersen finished with 57 saves for Carolina, which conceded power play goals from Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen.

The longest game in NHL history occurred on March 24, 1936, when the Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in the sixth overtime on Mud Bruneteau’s goal at 116 minutes, 30 seconds. extra game. In the only other game to go to a sixth overtime, Toronto outscored Boston 1-0 on Ken Doraty’s goal at 104:46 on April 3, 1933.