Panthers Tie ECF vs. Panarin, Rangers as NHL Fans Celebrate Sam Reinhart's OT Goal

Sam Reinhart's overtime game-winner propelled the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the visiting New York Rangers to knot the Eastern Conference Final at two games apiece on Tuesday.

The Panthers went on the power play after Rangers right wing Blake Wheeler was called for hooking on center Aleksander Barkov just 59 seconds into the extra session.

After Florida won the faceoff, the puck found its way to defenseman Brandon Montour, who slotted a pass to Barkov on the goal line.

Barkov then quickly fired the puck to Reinhart, who was waiting in the inner half of the right faceoff circle. The 28-year-old center then shot a one-timer past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, who finished with 38 saves.

The Panthers dominated the last two periods, posting 27 shots on goal to the Rangers' 10. Florida broke through twice in the second period, scoring off a Sam Bennett even-strength tally and a Carter Verhaeghe power-play goal.

Those goals swung the momentum away from the Rangers, who grabbed it in the first period after center Vincent Trocheck one-timed an Artemi Panarin pass for a power-play score that clipped the underside of the crossbar before going in.

Despite being out-shot 13-5 in the third period, the Rangers scored the final regulation frame's lone goal when Alexis Lafrenière paid off a beautiful back-handed setup from defenseman Adam Fox.

Neither team could break through in the remainder of regulation, leading to the series' third straight overtime matchup. The Rangers won the first two, but Reinhart stopped that streak cold with a quick OT goal.

Fans were impressed with the effort:

Game 5 will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in New York. Game 6 will follow on Saturday in Florida. Game 7, if necessary, will go down Monday at 8 p.m.