Verhaeghe scores OT winner, Bobrovsky makes some fantastic saves, and Panthers top Lightning 3-2

Florida Panthers players celebrate after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 during an overtime period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky stopped a shot with his mask, then made a diving, no-look save that they’ll remember in Florida for a long time.

And Carter Verhaeghe made sure his goalie’s highlight-reel work came in a win.

Verhaeghe — making some history of his own — lifted a backhander just under the crossbar 2:59 into overtime, and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in their NHL first-round playoff series.

“It just takes one shot in these moments,” Verhaeghe said after Florida won its 11th consecutive OT playoff game — the second-longest such streak in NHL history.

Verhaeghe became the sixth player in NHL history with at least five playoff overtime gamewinners. This one came on a play where Matthew Tkachuk got the puck to Anton Lundell — who found Verhaeghe. He waited for Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to commit, then put the puck over him to end it.

Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) scores against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during an overtime period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers beat the Lightning 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The only players in NHL history with more playoff OT gamewinners than Verhaeghe are Joe Sakic with eight, and Maurice “Rocket” Richard with six.

“Being in the conversation with those guys, that’s pretty crazy,” Verhaeghe said.

Added Panthers coach Paul Maurice, when told that stat: “Whoa. That’s pretty good.”

Sam Bennett, who left with an injury in the second period when he appeared to get hit by teammate Brandon Montour’s slap shot, and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for Florida. Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots, including some highlight-reel saves.

Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos scored for Tampa Bay, which got two assists from Victor Hedman. Vasilevskiy stopped 34 shots, matching Bobrovsky stop-for-stop for long stretches of what seemed like a goaltending duel for much of the night.

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Anthony Duclair (10) attempts a shot at Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

“Both goalies made some amazing saves,” Stamkos said. “Game could have ended a lot earlier, probably.”’

Bobrovsky had two wild saves in the second period — one off his mask, the other a no-look dive that he got basically with his back to the play to deny Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba and preserve what was then a 2-2 tie.

And it stayed that way, all the way until the sudden end.

“It’s a big, big win for us,” Bobrovsky said.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Dumba (24) during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

It was 2-0 Florida after one, with Bennett scoring at 6:16 — the Lightning unsuccessfully challenged that goal for goaltender interference — and Tarasenko connecting nearly nine minutes later. The Panthers controlled the opening 15 minutes, just like they did in Game 1, outshooting the Lightning 12-1 and the two-goal lead held up going into the second period.

Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) slams Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier (65) into the boards during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

That’s when the Lightning — who boast a roster loaded with Stanley Cup hoisters — showed their postseason poise.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) and Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) collide during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

“Unfortunately for us, we’re finding ourselves behind in both games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said, after his team fell for the 11th time in its last 12 playoff overtime contests. “It’s a tough league to come back in, especially in the playoffs.”

Point scored 48 seconds into the second to cut the lead in half. Stamkos — who was an inch away from a power-play tally in the opening period — got one at 5:48 of the second to tie the game. It was his patented one-timer, just like the one he took a period earlier that got past Bobrovsky’s glove but hit the goalpost with such force that the rebound skipped all the way out of the zone.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save against Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

So, Florida had lost two things — the lead, and Bennett. He left early in the second period, seeming to hold his wrist, and went directly toward the Panthers’ locker room as soon as he got off the ice. He did not return, with the Panthers calling it an upper-body injury. Maurice said he’ll be evaluated Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) attempts a shot at Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

But Panthers found a way to take a 2-0 lead, after going 2-8 in their two previous playoff series with their in-state rivals — who now head home needing to protect home ice.

“There’s a ton of resiliency in that group,” Cooper said.

A lot in the Panthers too, and Verhaeghe showed that — again.

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) attempts a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and defenseman Erik Cernak (81) during the first period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

“Chucky made an awesome play, Lundy made an awesome play,” Verhaeghe said. “I just finished it.”

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) attempts a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the first period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

UP NEXT

Game 3 is Thursday in Tampa.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) slams Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Anthony Duclair (10) into the boards during the second period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Panthers right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (10) is congratulated by centers Sam Bennett (9) and Anton Lundell (15) after he scored during the first period of Game 2 of the first-round of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)