Verhaeghe pots 5th career playoff OT winner in Game 2
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe scored his fifth career playoff overtime winner Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, giving the defending Eastern Conference champions a 2-0 series lead.
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— Bally Sports Florida: Panthers (@BallyPanthers) April 24, 2024
Verhaeghe is now tied for third on the all-time playoff OT goals list, behind only Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Maurice Richard.
| Rank | Player | Playoff OT winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Sakic | 8 |
| 2 | Maurice Richard | 6 |
| T3 | Glenn Anderson | 5 |
| T3 | Patrick Kane | 5 |
| T3 | Corey Perry | 5 |
| T3 | Carter Verhaeghe | 5 |
"To be in the conversation with those guys is pretty crazy," Verhaeghe said postgame. "That's all I can say. Just shocked."
Verhaeghe played the hero in OT twice in Round 1 against the Washington Capitals in 2022, then twice during Florida's run to the Stanley Cup Final last year.
"He's got the clutch gene," teammate Aaron Ekblad said. "He was born with it, man."
A 2020 Stanley Cup winner with the Lightning, Verhaeghe joined the in-state rivals as a free agent the following offseason. The 28-year-old's now registered 37 points in 47 career postseason contests.