The Florida Panthers delivered a masterclass in hockey on Sunday afternoon, commanding every aspect of the game against the New York Rangers. With an astounding 108 shot attempts, two power-play goals, and a complete shutdown of the Rangers’ power play, the Panthers seemed destined to take Game three of the Eastern Conference finals. Yet, despite their overwhelming performance, they were left stunned by a 5-4 overtime loss.
Florida’s relentless pressure resulted in 38 shots on goal compared to New York’s 22. The Panthers created 15 high-danger scoring chances, more than double the Rangers’ seven. Yet, it was the Rangers who capitalized on critical moments, with Alex Wennberg tipping in the game-winner past Sergei Bobrovsky 5:35 into overtime.
“It’s a weird, weird game, this wonderful game of hockey, especially in the playoffs,” said Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “When you put up what we put up tonight and don’t come up with the win, you should be a little growly.”
The Panthers found themselves trailing early, as the Rangers netted two quick goals in the first period. Despite this setback, Florida displayed their characteristic resilience. Sam Reinhart continued his playoff power-play prowess, scoring twice to keep the Panthers in contention. In the third period, Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling scored within two minutes, erasing a two-goal deficit and sending the game into overtime.
Throughout the game, the Panthers dominated puck possession, particularly in the third period, where the Rangers’ coach Peter Laviolette described his team as being “under siege.” The Panthers peppered Igor Shesterkin with 24 shot attempts in the final 8:10 of regulation, but the Rangers’ netminder stood tall, making 33 saves in total.
“Maybe that’s the thing,” Barkov reflected, “when you have the puck a lot in the offensive zone, you think, ‘OK, we’ve had the puck so much, maybe they’re not going to go on the offense now.’ Then all of a sudden they go. But there’s a reason they’re a good team, so we’ve got to be aware of that.”
The Panthers’ defense, usually their strong suit, had uncharacteristic lapses that the Rangers exploited. Barclay Goodrow’s shorthanded goal in the second period and Alexis Lafreniere’s two goals highlighted these defensive breakdowns.
Despite the loss, the Panthers remain confident and focused. They are a team built for the playoffs, known for their physical, disciplined, and defensively sound play. Maurice emphasized the importance of harnessing the frustration and using it as fuel for the upcoming games.
“Sometimes you want to keep the growl,” Maurice said. “A lot of times in the playoffs, it’s about making sure you keep that energy fully, cut off your losses, and you let it go. Then there are times you want to keep it, and eat it, and let it burn for a while and find a different kind of energy source.”
With the series now at 2-1 in favor of the Rangers, the Panthers are determined to bounce back in Game four on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Florida. They aim to knot the series at 2-2 and reaffirm their dominance.
Reinhart, reflecting on the team’s mindset, noted, “Anytime you lose a close one like that it’s obviously frustrating. You can say we dominate, but look at the mistakes that lead to their goals, so there’s areas of improvement for sure.”
The Panthers’ fans, the loudest in the arena on Sunday, will be crucial in lifting their team. Florida’s depth, energy, and relentless attack suggest this series is far from over, and the Panthers have every chance to turn the tide in their favor.
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