If you watched the opening game between Carolina and Florida, you were very lucky. For my money, it ranks among the greatest games ever played. Period! That puts it directly in a class with a game I worked first-hand. "The Easter Epic" of April 18, 1987. Islanders vs. Capitals.

If you watched the opening game between Carolina and Florida, you were very lucky.

For my money, it ranks among the greatest games ever played. Period!

That puts it directly in a class with a game I worked first-hand. That was "The Easter Epic" of April 18, 1987. New York Islanders vs. The Washington Capitals. It began on Easter Eve and ended on Easter Sunday. Either way it was epic.

Like last night's 3-2 Panthers win over the Hurricanes, the Isles marathon stretched into a fourth sudden-death period and also concluded with a 3-2 count.

When Matthew Tkachuk daggered the Canes, his feat was accomplished with a mere dozen or so seconds remaining in the fourth OT. Many of us through there would be a fifth overtime.

Pat LaFontaine's tally at Capital Centre in suburban Landover, Maryland was scored at 8:47 of the fourth extra session. It ended the series in Game Seven.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_XfSlmMw6M[/embed]

Tkachuk's tally was registered in only the opening game of the third playoff round last night in Raleigh.

I rate the two games among my all-time classics for the following reasons.

1. Goaltending: Isles goalie Kelly Hrudey played the game of his life. He made 73 saves. Sergei Bobrovski had to make 63 stops last night and early morning.

Both Bob Mason and Fred Andersen, respectively, were almost equally competent on the other side for the losers.

2. Playing Style: Both the Isles and Cats relied on their aces. Bryan Trottier tied the game late in the third and Patty got the winner. Florida got early goals from their aces, Alex Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe, and the winner from the immensely talented Tkachuk.

3. Battling Fatigue: Despite the fact that both games stretched into the next morning, teams managed -- miraculously, I might add -- to remain reasonably fresh.

4. Attitude: Both the Isles and Cats believed in themselves and it paid off.

"After Trots tied the game at two apiece," said Randy Wood, "we all felt we were going to win the game."

The Panthers claimed that one key to their OT success was their ability to employ their sense of humor. Isles then assistant coach Bob Nystrom recalled the same feeling when he was behind the bench that night in Landover.

"After a while," Nystrom remembered, "I found myself smiling and laughing a lot. I knew we were all part of something special."

The feeling of exuberance when the winning goals were scored produced interesting results. Tkachuk practically sprinted off the ice to the Cats' dressing room.

For the fatigued Islanders there was no rush to exit the ice. Their heroes had to be embraced before they exited.

"First we tackled Patty," said forward Alan Kerr, "and then we remembered to go after Kelly."

Likewise, it took a few seconds for the Panthers to smother Bobrovsky.

I had one thing over the Florida broadcasters; I got my interview with LaFontaine before he ever made it to the dressing room!