Carter Verhaeghe’s knack for overtime heroics recharges Panthers’ Stanley Cup title hopes
Carter Verhaeghe’s teammates often marvel at how good of a shooter he is on the ice.
But there’s something about Verhaeghe and overtime playoff hockey that makes it even more dangerous.
On Thursday night, Verhaeghe’s knack for playoff overtime heroics reinvigorated the Florida Panthers’ hopes of winning the Stanley Cup when he fired home the game-winner four minutes and 27 seconds into the extra period to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 and keep Florida from falling into a potentially insurmountable 3-0 series deficit.
“Our goal was to come in and win a game,” Verhaeghe said. “We had to find a way. Obviously, I could make a great play and I just tried to put it in front. Whenever there are guys in front, I just try and shoot it. Made a good play.”
It was Verhaeghe’s fourth overtime winner in the past two playoffs and his second this postseason after having scored the decisive goal in the Panthers’ first-round series win over Boston. Verhaeghe also had two overtime goals in Florida’s first-round series win over the Washington Capitals last season including the series-clincher at Washington in Game 6.
“There are guys on that bench that score and can come back and feel it,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Verhaeghe wants the puck, and why wouldn’t he? I think there’s a little bit of collective confidence from us.”
According to NHL public relations, Verhaeghe is the only player in league history to score multiple overtime goals in consecutive postseasons and only one of three to have two in multiple playoff years at any point in his career, joining Joe Sakic (1996, 2004) and Esa Tikkanen (1991, 1997).
“He has the nose for the net,” said Panthers wing Matthew Tkachuk, who tied the game with 2:13 left in the third period. “He’s got an unbelievable shot and he finds the soft areas like not a lot of guys can. That allows him to be one of the top players in the league.
“He’s got that offensive package you rarely see. Some of his shots (tonight) weren’t even screened. He just has that ability.”
Verhaeghe, who scored his seventh goal and recorded his 10th assist of this postseason, credited center Sam Bennett for setting him up perfectly. Bennett also assisted on Verhaeghe’s game-winner in Game 7 in Boston.
But if you ask his teammates, Verhaeghe doesn’t need much help beating opposing goalies, just some space to quickly put the puck on net.
“He’s just one of those guys who just has that in him. He has an incredible shot. His shot is dangerous, no matter from where he’s shooting,” Panthers center Aleksander Barkov said. “To have that guy on the ice and overtime, it’s always dangerous. I would give the puck to him any time.”
