Tkachuk nets winner in OT (again), as Panthers take 2-0 lead

RALEIGH, N.C. — Matthew Tkachuk didn’t need four overtimes to score the game-winning goal this time. He just needed one to give the Florida Panthers a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals over the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Panthers star winger’s power-play goal at 1:51 of the first overtime gave his team a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Game 1 of the conference final was the sixth-longest Stanley Cup playoff game in NHL history, lasting four overtimes until Tkachuk’s goal at 19:47.

On Saturday, with Carolina forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the penalty box for hooking, the Panthers’ Sam Bennett passed to Sam Reinhart, who found Tkachuk for a quick shot that beat goaltender Antti Raanta high.

“It’s been a lot of hockey in the last two games. It’s just great to end it early,” said Tkachuk, who netted his seventh goal of the playoffs. “Great pass to start by Benny, and a great pass by Rhino there to make it really, really easy for me. It was awesome.”

The Panthers improved to 6-0 in overtimes during this playoff run. For Tkachuk, it was his third overtime winner of the postseason.

Just like he did when the Panthers won Game 1 in the fourth overtime, Tkachuk pointed to the exit of the rink and led his Panthers off the ice to celebrate.

For the Hurricanes, it was a frustrating night full of close calls and missed opportunities. They came out blazing in the first period, at one point outshooting Florida 17-1. They went 0-for-3 on the power play after converting twice in Game 1.

“This is not new to us. We’ve been kicked in the teeth here a lot these last few years, and we’ve always responded,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

Carolina opened the scoring just 1:43 into the game. Winger Stefan Noesen skated in with a shot that Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky blocked to the opposite corner. That’s where Sebastian Aho found it and quickly sent a pass to…