(Sunrise) Carter Verhaeghe scored at 4:27 in overtime and the Florida Panthers beat Vegas 3-2 on Thursday to cut the Golden Knights’ lead to 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Verhaeghe put an end to the debate with a wrist shot in the top of the net, following a short pass from Sam Bennett.
“We are the Panthers,” Verhaeghe said. We have as many lives as we can possibly have left. It shows how talented our team is. I had a little time to come forward and shoot. I’m really happy the puck went in. ยป
Hostilities will resume on Saturday evening at Sunrise.
Brandon Montour and Matthew Tkachuk scored Florida’s other goals, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves.
Tkachuk tied the score 2-2 at 17:47 in the third period. He converted the rebound from a Verhaeghe shot, coming from the top of the left circle.
Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone scored for the Knights, while Adin Hill blocked 20 shots.
Marchessault hit the mark at 14:59 in the second period. A goal scored in superiority, like that of his teammate.
Stone and Montour hit the target in the first frame.
Stone tied the score at 16:03 after Montour netted at 4:08 with a wrist shot high into the net. The Knights goaltender had plenty of traffic in front of him.
Following William Carrier’s penalty, the Golden Knights got their first power play at 12:14.
The Golden Knights couldn’t take advantage, but they managed to get some good shots.
The team got a 1:37 power play four-on-three with less than five minutes left in the first period.
Stone took the opportunity to successfully deflect a shot from Shea Theodore.
Half of the second period was marked by penalties for each team, without there being a goal.
With 7:55 to go in the second half, Bobrovsky made a superb save against Brayden McNabb to keep the score at 1-1. The Golden Knights had a fine passing game near the slot, and McNabb was overlooked.
Marchessault finally made the Panthers pay for their indiscipline, scoring with a one-timer.
The Quebecer had as accomplices Stone and Jack Eichel.