Tkachuk nets 3 as Florida Panthers rally to edge Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime

The Story

Brady Tkachuk recorded a hat trick as the Florida Panthers rallied to defeat the visiting Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime on Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

For Florida, Seth Jones added two assists and Akira Schmid made 15 saves to earn the win. Vancouver’s Liam Öhgren and Elias Pettersson replied, while Leevi Merilainen stopped 36 shots in the loss.

Öhgren opened the scoring for the Canucks at 7:23 of the first period, beating Schmid from the slot after a failed Florida clearing attempt. Pettersson then doubled Vancouver’s lead at 17:06, finishing a play from Filip Chytil.

The Panthers outshot the Canucks 15-8 in the first period and led 24-11 after 40 minutes, but both teams were held scoreless in the second. Florida finally broke through in the third when Tkachuk scored his fourth of the season at 11:11, one-timing a pass from Aaron Ekblad from the top of the right offensive faceoff circle past Merilainen.

With 2:30 remaining, Florida pulled Schmid for an extra attacker. Vancouver appeared to be on the verge of holding on, but Tkachuk tied the game at 2-2 with 12.8 seconds left, firing a second goal from the right circle to send the game to overtime.

Tkachuk completed the comeback in the 3-on-3 overtime period at 2:23, beating Merilainen low to the glove side for the winner. The hat trick was his second in two games, and he now has five career hat tricks.

The Canucks wrap up their six-game road swing Saturday at 1 p.m., when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning. Earlier Thursday, general manager Ryan Johnson announced that Vancouver acquired Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Aatu Räty.

Notes from Vancouver ahead of the game said Aatu Räty was dealt to Toronto for Quillan and Buhr. The teams also listed scratches for the Canucks on Thursday as Guillaume Brisebois, Luke Schenn, and Arshdeep Bains.