Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin barely beat the clock Saturday night and, as a result, Carolina scored a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers.
With the game clock winding down to single digits, and the shootout looming, Hanifin followed up his own shot and calmly beat Panthers goalie James Reimer with only two seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the 'Canes to their third win in eight overtime contests this season.
The goal was Hanifin's fifth of the season, and the second overtime winner of his career. It came mere seconds Reimer made a sensational save on Carolina's Jeff Skinner. Reimer made 44 saves in the loss.
Noah Hanifin scored his second career overtime goal with two seconds remaining in the extra frame.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 3, 2017
Only one defenseman in @NHLCanes / Whalers franchise history has scored more than two regular-season overtime goals – Anton Babchuk (3). #NHLStats #FLAvsCAR pic.twitter.com/3CqKdfgC6Y
Florida forced the five-minute overtime when Aleksander Barkov scored with 1:56 remaining in regulation.
The Hurricanes, just 2-3-1 in their last six games, now depart on a six-game road trip. The Panthers dropped their second straight game after winning three of their previous four.