Matthew Tkachuk beats the buzzer, sends Panthers to Stanley Cup Final

With Game 4 knotted up at 3-3, a Jordan Staal tripping penalty with 57 seconds left gave the Panthers a man advantage. Seconds away from overtime, Tkachuk ended things in dramatic fashion. Receiving a feed from Aleksander Barkov while circling the Carolina net, Tkachuk showed tremendous patience, waiting for the perfect angle to beat goaltender Frederik Andersen.

Scoring at 19:55 of the third period, Tkachuk tied Nick Metz (1942) for the latest game-winning goal in regulation of a series-clincher in Stanley Cup Playoff history, per the NHL’s Communications Department. 

From top to bottom, the Panthers have played as a team during their remarkable postseason run. However, Tkachuk has been the catalyst for the underdog group, recording 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists), including three overtime winners, over 16 playoff games. 

Tkachuk was incredibly impactful against the Hurricanes, finishing with five points in the four-game sweep with three game-winning goals. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Tkachuk is only the seventh player to score three game-winning goals in a postseason sweep. 

Tkachuk and the Panthers began their run to the final by stunning the record-setting Boston Bruins before setting down the favored Toronto Maple Leafs in the conference semifinal. Now, after beating the Hurricanes by one goal in four-straight games, the Panthers will battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time since 1996. 

Following the win, Tkachuk spoke about the team’s remarkable ride, knowing that whoever they face for the Cup, they’ll still be considered longshots. 

“We’ve been the underdog in every series so far. We’re going to continue to be in the Stanley Cup Final,” Tkachuk said via TNT. “We’re going to be the underdog there. We just believe in ourselves. Not many other people do.”

Florida now awaits the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars. The Stars host the Golden Knights for Game 4 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, leading the series 2-1.