If Carter Verhaeghe gets the puck on his stick in overtime, the game is already over.
Tuesday’s game-winning goal was Verhaeghe’s fifth playoff overtime goal of his career, and gave the Florida Panthers a 2-0 lead in this first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Game-Winner
Three minutes into overtime, Matthew Tkachuk won a battle along the boards in Florida’s offensive zone and was able to dish it out to Anton Lundell in the slot. With two defenders on him, Lundell threaded the needle between two other Tampa defensemen to get the puck to Verhaeghe at the crease. Verhaeghe was patient with the puck on his stick, waiting for the perfect moment to strike past Tampa goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. With the former Vezina-winning goaltender laying spread eagle on the ice, Verhaeghe fired off a top-shelf backhanded shot to send everyone home.
“Someone’s got to make a play,” Verhaeghe said. “(Tkachuk) made an awesome play, (Lundell) made an awesome play, and obviously I just finished it. But it’s … situations where you’re just trying to make a play, go out there, have fun. And, I mean, they go in sometimes, I guess.”
Household Name, Verhaeghe
Verhaeghe, who was on the 2019-20 Tampa Bay team that won the Stanley Cup, has made himself a household name with his playoff heroics with the Panthers, especially in the third period and overtime.
In 2021-22, Verhaeghe scored six goals in Florida’s first-round matchup with the Washington Capitals, including two overtime goals. His overtime-winning slapshot in game six of that series clinched the first series win for the franchise since the 1996 Stanley Cup run.
VIDEO!
Inside the @FlaPanthers Radio Booth for Carter Verhaeghe’s OT winner in Game 2 vs. Tampa Bay: pic.twitter.com/Es2Nb9LDmt
— Doug Plagens (@DougPlagens) April 24, 2024
Last season, it was Verhaeghe who notched the overtime winner against the Boston Bruins to win game seven of the first round in one of the most improbable upsets in NHL history. The 28-year-old also scored the game-winning goal in overtime a few weeks later against the Vegas Golden Knights to capture Florida’s first win in a Stanley Cup Final.
“He’s got the clutch gene,” said Ekblad after Tuesday’s 3-2 victory, who rehabbed with Verhaeghe towards the end of the regular season as they both dealt with injuries. “He was born with it. It’s a lot of years of hard work, and when you’re with him every day and you see the work he puts in, it’s no surprise at all.”
The Record-Setter
Per Chris Jastrzembski of TNT, Verhaeghe is now tied for third in NHL history with five postseason overtime goals, trailing only hall-of-famers Joe Sakic (8) and Maurice Richard (6). Sakic accomplished the feat in 172 games and Richard did it in 132. Verhaeghe, at 28 years old, has done it in 47 games.
“I do believe that some people thrive in certain frequencies,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said of Verhaeghe prior to game two. “Of conversation, of relationships, in their life. When you’re out of your own frequency, when you’re off the right path, you’re just not right. But the playoff game is his frequency.”
While he was still the head coach for the Winnipeg Jets prior to last season, Maurice said he watched a lot of Lightning and Panthers playoff games. He wasn’t familiar with Verhaeghe yet, but his play caught his attention because of how he shined in the most intense moments. Maurice described it as “hecticity.”
“It’s not my word. I stole it from (former Edmonton and Buffalo head coach) Ralph Krueger,” Maurice said. “But I understand what it means. It’s hectic out there and there’s an intensity to it. And he thrives in that. That’s where he’s at his best.”
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