The full 60 minutes of hockey wasn’t enough for the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Nor was there an extension, not two or three. In the playoffs, overtimes are full 20-minute periods.
Four overtimes were almost not enough until Matthew Tkachuk found the back of the net with 12.7 seconds left in the frame, handing the Panthers a 3-2 Game 1 win just before 2 a.m. on the East Coast.
It was the sixth longest game in NHL history, with teams playing more than one doubleheader in a single contest.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during fourth overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals of the Florida Panthers playoffs. Stanley Cup 2023 at PNC Arena on May 18, 2023. in Raleigh, North Carolina (Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
So how did they get over it? Rolling back the clocks to their college allowances.
Tkachuk revealed that the Panthers were beating up Red Bulls and eating pizza before taking to the ice for what would be the fourth and final period of overtime.
«These guys tearing up Red Bulls before the fourth overtime, there’s pizza flowing. It was actually a lot of fun to watch.» Tkachuck said after the game..
The game went on so long that the team’s social media staff tried to wean their fans out of their Friday morning duties.
Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal during fourth overtime to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Finals at the PNC Arena on May 18, 2023 in Raleigh, United States. NORTH CAROLINA (Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
FATHER OF COYOTES STAR CLAIMS TWITTER ACCOUNT WAS HACKED AFTER NEGATIVE MESSAGES ABOUT THE TEAM
«To whom it may concern, sorry for the delay of _______ to ________ on May 19, 2023,» read a fake excuse letter written by the team on Twitter. «As you probably know, our Game 1 in the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes had four (4) overtime periods, and they had to stay up late to support the Cats.
«_______’s support is essential to the team and we appreciate your understanding.»
It was the longest game in the NHL since the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets played a five-overtime marathon on Aug. 11, 2020, in Toronto.
Florida found the back of the net in the first overtime, but it was returned due to goaltender interference.
Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in fourth overtime in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Finals at PNC Arena on May 19, 2023 in Raleigh, NC (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The game lasted so long that even Tkachuk didn’t feel like celebrating. After scoring the game-winning goal, he pointed directly toward the tunnel in the arena, instructing his team to come off the ice and into the locker room to celebrate.
game 2 is Saturday night in Carolina before the series heads south on Monday.