Florida Takes 2023 NHL Eastern Conference Opener In 4rth OT Period

By NHL Public Relations

May 19, 2023

The Panthers and Hurricanes traded game-tying goals in regulation before Matthew Tkachuk (1-0—1) scored the winner with 13 seconds remaining in the 4rth overtime period to cap the lengthiest game ever contested by either franchise.

Matthew Tkachuk scored with 13 seconds remaining in quadruple overtime to lift the Panthers to victory in the sixth-longest game in NHL history.

Sergei Bobrovsky (63 saves), who finished with a franchise record for saves in a playoff game, finished tied for the 10th most in any postseason game on record (since 1955-56). His Game 1 outing in the Conference Finals comes on the heels of a 50-save performance in a series-clinching win against Toronto. He joined Juuse Saros (Game 3 & Game 4 of 2021 R1) – who accomplished the feat against the Hurricanes – and Curtis Joseph (Game 1 & Game 2 of 1993 DF at TOR) as just the third goaltender on record with consecu

Frederik Andersen made 57 saves to establish a franchise record for most in a playoff game, besting the previous mark of 53 set by Hartford’s Frank Pietrangelo in Game 7 of the 1992 Division Semifinals.

The Panthers and Hurricanes combined for 125 shots on goal – one of seven instances on record to reach the mark.

Matthew Tkachuk’s second overtime goal of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs boosted his postseason totals to 6-11—17, tying Dave Lowry (10-7—17 in 1996) for the most points in a playoff year in Panthers history. Tkachuk now sits one overtime goal shy of tying the most in a single postseason in NHL history.

Brandon Montour (57:56), Gustav Forsling (55:41), Brent Burns (54:43), Aaron Ekblad (52:10) and Jaccob Slavin (51:41) each logged at least 50 minutes of ice time – with Montour and Burns finishing with the highest single-game total by a skater for their franchise since 1997-98 when time on ice was first officially tracked (FLA; CAR).