Getty Image / Josh Lavallee
NHL fans love to brag about how their playoffs are the best playoffs in all of sports. And, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are pretty entertaining, even if I don’t necessarily agree that they are the best there is.
But, Thursday night’s game one of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers helped the argument that it’s the best playoffs in all of sports.
Most of us, including myself, to be honest, were watching the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets game. But, at 8PM Eastern time, the hockey game was starting. And, it didn’t end until just minutes before 2AM ET.
The game started with the Hurricanes taking a 1-0 lead, before the Florida Panthers scored two goals in the 2nd period to take a 2-1 lead. But, Carolina scored on a Stefan Noesen goal in the third period, and the game headed to overtime.
Tic-Tac-Toe between Necas & Aho to find Noesen alone to tie the game 2-2 with ANOTHER powerplay goal. #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/7ZT5SRdHwW
— y – Zachary Martin (@OneTrueZach) May 19, 2023
That’s really not that extraordinary, as plenty of games go to overtime. But, this one went to four overtimes, and very nearly a fifth!
Ryan Lomberg nearly won it for the Florida Panthers in the first overtime period, but it was ruled goalie interference.
RYAN LOMBERG WINS GAME 1 IN OVERTIME FOR THE PANTHERS!#TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/FhVKSRXOtH
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) May 19, 2023
Goalie interference brings back Ryan Lomberg’s OT winner pic.twitter.com/JtaVHFipeJ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 19, 2023
Finally, with just 12.7 seconds to go in the fourth overtime, Florida Panthers phenom Matthew Tkachuk scored the game-winner.
MATTY TKACHUK WINS GAME 1 FOR THE PANTHERS AT THE DEATH OF 4OT!!! pic.twitter.com/2BLt8KfseW
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 19, 2023
It’s the sixth-longest game in NHL playoffs history. And, the fan reactions during and after the game were pretty funny.
When the NHL playoff game is even starting to get late for Californians, you KNOW its a marathon!
— Beyond 716 (@beyond716) May 19, 2023
Help us. Please. End this madness. @NHL_On_TNT
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) May 19, 2023
There's atleast 31 people pissed there's a nhl game on instead Hancock
— Tony X (@soIoucity) May 19, 2023
Biz said "children of the corn" 😭 pic.twitter.com/PxDmwkMAeh
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 19, 2023
Canes fans who left the building after the Panthers OT No goal… pic.twitter.com/p3vZ6GZ8H7
— Chris Conte (@ChrisConte79) May 19, 2023
These two teams have to play on Saturday, and there are going to be some very tired hockey players out there.