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Alex Wennberg's overtime goal propelled the New York Rangers to a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, giving the Blueshirts a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindberg wristed a shot from the blue line, and Wennberg was right out front for a deflection to close a massive victory.
It was a tremendous win for New York, which led 4-2 in the third period before the Panthers scored twice in under two minutes to tie the game with 13:02 left.
It was a devastating loss for Florida, which took 108 shot attempts to the Rangers' 44. More specifically, Florida put 37 shots on net to New York's 23.
A frenetic first period ended in a two-all tie. Sam Reinhart's two power play goals buffered Rangers goals from Alexis Lafrenière and Barclay Goodrow.
NHL @NHLREINO 🦏<br><br>The Cats are on the board early in Game 3! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/MxEwYjfWfT">pic.twitter.com/MxEwYjfWfT</a>
NHL @NHLALEXIS LAFRENIÈRE, THAT WAS GROSS 🥵 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/0CHG1tVOex">pic.twitter.com/0CHG1tVOex</a>
NHL @NHLBARCLAY GOODROW STRIKES AGAIN 💥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZuFqqZo1Fq">pic.twitter.com/ZuFqqZo1Fq</a>
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NHL @NHLThat's TWO for Sam Reinhart! ✌️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/t3RN9zQML5">pic.twitter.com/t3RN9zQML5</a>
Lafrenière and Barclay Goodrow then each scored again in the second period, with the latter player earning his tally on the penalty kill.
NHL @NHLHim <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OHmTu">https://t.co/Pp9X7OHmTu</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhJpz">https://t.co/sEijvXhJpz</a> <a href="https://t.co/SAjSXz4Tzr">https://t.co/SAjSXz4Tzr</a> <a href="https://t.co/57LytL5T7S">pic.twitter.com/57LytL5T7S</a>
NHL @NHLBarclay Goodrow is on a heater of all heaters right now. 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/3AUDZQvQJU">pic.twitter.com/3AUDZQvQJU</a>
Goodrow has now scored six times in his last six postseason games after netting four goals in 80 regular-season contests. He also notably scored the game-winner in the Rangers' 2-1 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 2.
Undeterred, the Panthers fought back with even-strength goals from Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling.
NHL @NHLThe <a href="https://twitter.com/FlaPanthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FlaPanthers</a> get one back!! 🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/ExH1gJmaL5">pic.twitter.com/ExH1gJmaL5</a>
NHL @NHLFLORIDA TIES IT UP 🤯 <br><br>GUSTAV FORSLING <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <br><br>🇺🇸: ABC & <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNPlus</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/xzCUh88vSe">pic.twitter.com/xzCUh88vSe</a>
Florida had many chances to take the lead down the stretch, including seven shot attempts on a power play following a Jacob Trouba holding call. However, Igor Shesterkin stood tall in net and kept the score at four.
Fast-paced action marked the start of overtime, and a quick goal almost seemed inevitable. That score happened after Wennberg, a trade deadline acquisition from the Seattle Kraken, netted his first playoff goal with New York for the big win.
The 29-year-old center picked a great time for his first playoff goal, and it was also sweet revenge for him as well after he was crushed at mid-ice following a Dmitry Kulikov hit in Game 2 that was nearly called a major.
One game later, Wennberg is the Rangers' hero. Fans were impressed and elated following the score.
Florida will now host New York for Game 4 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
