What Happened
Brady Tkachuk scored in overtime to give the Florida Panthers a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla. Tkachuk tied the game with 13 seconds left in regulation, with goalie Akira Schmid pulled for an extra attacker, then won it with a move up the middle. It was his second straight natural hat trick after scoring three consecutive goals Tuesday at Columbus. Liam Ohgren and Elias Pettersson had staked Vancouver to a first-period lead.
Key Details
- Tkachuk's tying goal came with 13 seconds left in regulation from the right faceoff circle.
- His first goal came with 8:49 remaining from the top of the right circle.
- Canucks goalie Leevi Merilainen made 36 saves.
- Ohgren scored at 7:23 of the first; Pettersson scored with 2:54 left in the first, his third of the season.
- Filip Chytil made his season debut after a preseason shoulder injury and assisted on Pettersson's goal.
- Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen left midway through the third after crashing into the back boards off a Pettersson hit.
- Before the game, Vancouver traded Aatu Raty to Toronto for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.
What It Means
The loss extends Vancouver's season-worst skid to six games, with the last five coming on a six-game trip. Tkachuk's back-to-back natural hat tricks give Florida a dramatic comeback win. Luostarinen's exit leaves the Panthers with an injury question, while Chytil's return provides Vancouver a forward boost.
What's Next
Vancouver concludes its six-game trip, while Florida continues its homestand. Luostarinen's status will be monitored after he left in the third period.