However, it seemed like they were in trouble with the last playoff spot of the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals, after the first four games. Being tied with the veteran Capitals was already somewhat of a loss for the high-flying Panthers, but they were also in trouble on home ice in game five.
3:28 into the second period, T.J. Oshie scored his second goal of the game to give the Capitals a 3-0 lead. At that point, it looked like the Panthers were well on their way to going back to Washington on the brink of elimination.
Cue the comeback. Carter Verhaeghe got Florida on the board 6:50 into the second to make it 3-1. Then Patric Hornqvist scored his first of the playoffs to cut the lead to one, and Sam Reinhart completed the comeback at 14:41 of the second. The Panthers scored three goals in the span of about eight minutes to tie the game at 3-3, heading into the third period.
Verhaeghe scored his second of the game 3:04 into the third to take the lead, and veteran Claude Giroux sealed it with the 5-3 goal with just over four minutes to play in the game. A very impressive FIVE unanswered goals from the Florida Panthers to take a 3-2 series lead.
A massive comeback by the top team in the league (which should be expected, I guess), but nonetheless, a hard thing to do, especially in the playoffs. Carter Verhaeghe was the big story as he factored in on all five of the Panthers' goals, as he ended the night with 2 goals and 3 assists. Coming off the overtime winner in game four as well.
