Tkachuk’s OT hat trick sinks Canucks as Panthers win 3-2

SUNRISE, Fla. – Brady Tkachuk scored three times, including the overtime winner, as the Florida Panthers rallied to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Thursday night.

Tkachuk tied the game with 13 seconds left in regulation, with goalie Akira Schmid pulled for an extra attacker, and won it at 2:23 of overtime with a wrist shot from the left hash marks. It was his second straight natural hat trick, after he scored three in a row in a 7-3 win over Columbus on Tuesday.

He is the first NHL player with consecutive hat tricks since Auston Matthews in February 2024.

Tkachuk called the night “pretty special” and credited a group effort. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said veterans with big-game experience want the puck in those moments.

Liam Ohgren gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 7:23 of the first period on his first shot of the game, and Elias Pettersson made it 2-0 at 17:06 on 4-on-4 play, assisted by Filip Chytil in his season debut. Tkachuk got Florida on the board at 11:11 of the third period.

Leevi Merilainen made 36 saves for Vancouver, while Schmid stopped 15 shots for his second straight win. Florida’s first goal came on its 32nd shot of the game.

Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen was hurt midway through the third period after a clean hit from Pettersson. The injury was not specified.

Florida improved to 4-2-2. Vancouver fell to 2-6-1 and has lost six straight, the last five of a six-game road trip.

Canucks coach Manny Malhotra said his team was more complete than in past games, apart from the final 10 minutes. Pettersson said the Canucks did not get the bounces but battled for 60 minutes.

Before the game, Vancouver traded forward Aatu Räty to Toronto for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr, as we reported. The Canucks were also beaten 3-2 by the New York Islanders earlier in the week.

The Canucks play at Tampa Bay on Saturday.

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Via NHL.com and TSN.