Tkachuk hat trick lifts Panthers past Canucks 3-2 in OT

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

It was the second straight natural hat trick for the Panthers forward, according to the NHL.com recap and CBS Miami. Tkachuk had three straight goals in the second period of a 7-3 win over Columbus on Tuesday.

Vancouver led 2-0 after the first period. Liam Ohgren opened the scoring from the slot early in the game, and Elias Pettersson made it 2-0 late in the period for his third goal of the season. Filip Chytil, who made his season debut after recovering from a shoulder injury, assisted on Pettersson’s goal, CBS Miami and Victoria News reported.

Tkachuk started the comeback in the third period with a shot from the top of the right circle to cut the lead to 2-1. He tied it with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle in the final seconds of regulation, with goalie Akira Schmid pulled for an extra attacker.

Tkachuk then won it in overtime with a move up the middle, beating Vancouver goalie Leevi Merilainen to complete the hat trick. Victoria News reported the winner came 2:23 into the three-on-three period; CBS Miami did not list a time.

Schmid made 15 saves for Florida. Merilainen stopped 36 shots in a losing effort for Vancouver.

CBS Miami reported that Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen left the game in the third period after a hit from Pettersson along the boards. His condition was not given.

The Canucks played hours after trading centre Aatu Raty to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr, a deal we reported Thursday. Vancouver also lost 3-2 to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

The Panthers had lost 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabres earlier this week.

The Canucks finish their road trip Saturday at the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.

Sources: NHL.com, CBS Miami, Victoria News.

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