Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers Beat Rangers, Hyped By NHL Fans for Taking ECF Series Lead

Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers put together a dominant third period Thursday night at Madison Square Garden to place themselves within one win of the Stanley Cup Final.

Sam Bennett scored the difference-maker into the New York Rangers' empty net to seal both a 3-2 Panthers victory and a 3-2 Eastern Conference Finals lead.

The Rangers were first on the board Thursday night as Chris Kreider opened scoring with a shorthanded goal in the second period.

The Panthers responded with three straight tallies, starting out with a highlight-reel setup from Bennett on the tying goal:

The third line struck next as Anton Lundell scored past a screen from Vladimir Tarasenko, a go-ahead goal that showcased the Panthers' depth:

The Panthers outshot the Rangers 16-10 as the home team struggled to control play in the third period.

A late goal by Mika Zibanejad wasn't enough to erase the deficit, and Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky finished the outing having allowed two or fewer goals for the fourth time in the five-game series.

The Panthers are now one victory away from the Stanley Cup Final, and their dominant third period left some fans convinced they would get that final win.

This would mark the second consecutive season Florida has capped with a trip to the Final. In 2024, the team lost their title bid in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Rangers will meanwhile need a road victory in order to keep their playoff hopes alive when the puck drops for Game 6 at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida.