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Three takeaways as Panthers tie Eastern Conference Final vs. Rangers
The Florida Panthers were able to finally break through against New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin on Tuesday night, picking up a massive 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Sam Reinhart's power-play goal just a little more than one minute into the overtime period was the difference in the game and allowed the Panthers to tie the series at two games apiece as if shifts back to Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday night.
Here are three key takeaways from Tuesday's game.
1. Sam Reinhart keeps making himself some major money
Reinhart has had one of the greatest seasons in the history of the Panthers franchise, and he continued it on Tuesday by scoring one of the team's biggest goals of the season.
SAM REINHART CALLED GAME
— NHL (@NHL) May 29, 2024
THIS SERIES IS TIED UP #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/65Eu2kGvHe
That goal is Reinhart's eighth of the playoffs, and after scoring 57 goals during the regular season he is now up to 65 goals in 97 games between the regular season and playoffs.
It could not have come at a better time for him as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Getting traded to Florida from Buffalo a couple of years ago turned out to be a career-changing moment for him as he has completely broken out with the Panthers and become a bonafide offensive star.
2. Igor Shesterkin gave the Rangers a chance
Game 4 was the third consecutive overtime game in the series, and there is one main reason that it made it that far — Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Shesterkin was one of the few Rangers players that was on their game on Tuesday night, stopping 37 out of 40 shots in the game. It was not just the number of saves he made that was important for the Rangers. It was also the type of saves.
The Rangers were stuck in their own zone for most of the night, struggling to clear the puck, constantly turning it over, and having multiple defensive breakdowns that gave the Panthers clean looks and odd-man rushes. For the most part, Shesterkin did everything he could to keep his team in the game and give it a chance.
If Shesterkin had simply been ordinary or average in this game the Rangers might have lost in regulation by multiple goals.
3. The Panthers have been the better team so far in the series
Even though the series is tied two games a piece, the Panthers really seemed to start tilting the ice in their favor in Games 3 and 4 of the series. During 5-on-5 play they attempted 70% of the total shot attempts and held a commanding edge in terms of scoring chances and zone time. In the first four games overall they have controlled nearly 60% of the expected goals during 5-on-5 play.
The only thing that has kept the Panthers from taking complete control of the series in terms of wins has been the play of Shesterkin and the Rangers getting a couple of overtime goals in Games 2 and 3. If the Rangers are not able to start dictating the pace of the game a little more they are going to need Shesterkin to keep playing like he is superman to have a chance.
The good news for them is that he is absolutely capable of doing that over the next two or three games. It is just not the best possible recipe for success to be that dependent on a goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
More must-reads:
- NHL announces 2024 King Clancy Memorial Trophy winner
- Kraken considering making historic assistant coach hire
- The 'NFL Defensive Players of the Year ' quiz
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