Florida Panthers left winger Carter Verhaeghe of Toronto, Ontario recorded the fifth Stanley Cup overtime winner of his National Hockey League career on Tuesday. He accomplished the feat in a 3-2 Panthers overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, just outside of Miami. With the win, the Panthers took a two games to none lead in the best out of seven Eastern Conference first round series.
Verhaeghe’s overtime winner on Tuesday came at 2:59 of the extra period. Anton Lundell had the assist. Verhaeghe was one of two Canadian players with a goal and a multi-point game. Sam Bennett of Holland Landing, Ontario had one goal and one assist for two points. However there is concern with Bennett going forward as he left the game with an upper-body injury.
Verhaeghe’s first overtime winner came on May 9, 2022 in a 3-2 Panthers win over the Washington Capitals. At the time, the Panthers tied the series at two in game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoff series. Verhaeghe’s next overtime winner also came in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Capitals. Verhaeghe scored in a 4-3 Florida win in game six to close out the series on May 13, 2022. Verhaeghe’s next two overtime winners came in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored on April 30, 2023 in a dramatic 4-3 Panthers win over the Boston Bruins in game seven of the first round series, and then scored again in game three of the Stanley Cup Final, a 3-2 Panthers win over the Vegas Golden Knights on June 8, 2023.
In the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Verhaeghe has two goals and one assist for three points. He is a +2 with six penalty minutes, one power-play point, one game-winning goal, eight shots on goal, one faceoff win, one blocked shot, five hits, two takeaways, and two giveaways.
