[ad_1]
A Matthew Tkachuk slapshot beat Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen within the ultimate seconds of the fourth extra time to place a super-sized “W” within the WTF that was Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals — the longest recreation in Panthers and Hurricanes historical past.
Watching the match felt like being held down below a Zamboni and force-fed a stream of espresso and jock-strap-sweat-flavored pints we oddly loved. Luckily, the Panthers discovered a artistic strategy to grant followers reprieve for sleeping in after biting their nails by way of the late evening hours.
MATTHEW TKACHUK’S GAME WINNER HELPS THE PANTHERS WIN THE SIXTH LONGEST GAME IN NHL PLAYOFF HISTORY 🚨 pic.twitter.com/H0Kwdm8HOd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 19, 2023
Marathon on Ice
Winner winner, rooster dinner. Wait — Tkachuk’s winner with 12 seconds left within the fourth extra time was really nearer to breakfast than it was dinner. Winner-winner, rooster breakfast?
With a fifth extra time looming, Tkachuk discovered himself holding the puck on his stick to a small window to function. With a slapshot and dash to the tunnel late, the Panthers have been heading to the locker room winners of Game 1 as an alternative of contributors in a seventh intermission.
“It sort of turns into the sport of attrition. You’re simply making an attempt to be affected person and anticipate the second and for the shot. Just one shot at a time. You do not assume an excessive amount of forward,” Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stated after the match.
The recreation clocked in at 139 minutes, the six-longest in NHL playoff historical past.
“I’m excited to get out of right here, catch that 2:35 bus again to the resort and get some sleep and a few meals,” Tkachuk informed Sportsnet after the game-winning objective.
Fans throughout South Florida hereby pronounce May 19, Tkachuk Day. Why? Because we want a vacation and a break day work, quick.
Panthers Excuse Fans From Friday
With Game 1 ending after 1:00 a.m. in South Florida, the Panthers’ advertising group sprang into motion to do their half in making certain followers have assist in the event that they have been a bit of gradual to roll off the bed on Friday. Following Tkachuk’s winner, the Panthers despatched out a pretend permission slip granting followers an excuse from their Friday morning tasks, or not less than a little bit of tardiness.
The permission slip, adorned with the Panthers’ emblem and official branding, mimicked an excuse slip you would possibly give to a trainer in class.
“As you’re most likely conscious, our Game 1 within the Eastern Conference Final in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes went into 4 extra time intervals,” the slip reads.
To be honest, if South Florida college students who stayed up previous midnight confirmed up at college in any respect this morning, they deserve applause, not the penalty field.
By order of the Florida Panthers: pic.twitter.com/lvst9KB6D0
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 19, 2023
What’s Next: Game 2
After having performed 4 overtimes in Game 1, the Panthers and Hurricanes already spent two full video games’ price of time on the ice. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Game 1 solely counts as one win within the collection they usually’ll must run it again on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m., after they return to battle the Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes, who completed the common season with the second-best document within the Eastern Conference, are favored to win over the Panthers, who barely secured a wildcard spot.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov nonetheless seems assured the Cats can outlast Carolina. Following the marathon recreation, he stated of the group’s efficiency, “You do not simply let it go. You grind all the best way till the tip.”