SUNRISE — They kept firing shots at Igor Shesterkin.

Shot after shot after shot and after nearly 200 shots over two games, the entire series still hung in the balance.

Here were the Florida Panthers, in overtime, yet again, having dropped the last two in this exact scenario to the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers.

Here were the Panthers, again, controlling play and yet unable to score those "pretty" goals that Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe had netted all season.

And then it happened.

"It was about as well-executed as you can," coach Paul Maurice said.

"A little nicer," Barkov said of the game-winner, smiling.

The Panthers beat the Rangers 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

This Eastern Conference final, all tied at 2, is developing into a classic.

What was a "little nicer" was Reinhart's game-winner, a power-play blaster off a pass from Barkov into the slot that sailed over Shesterkin's glove.

It meant everything.

If Florida had lost, it would be in a 3-1 series hole, and 91% of teams lose in that scenario. Yes, Florida did it last season, but two seasons in a row?

Unlikely.

The Rangers had won the last two of this series, each in overtime.

And a third consecutive overtime loss would have all but ensured the inevitable end to Florida's season.

Florida Panthers need overtime to keep season alive

And once again, Florida, it seemed, should have put this one away in regulation.

Former Panther Vincent Trocheck gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in period 1.

But Florida dominated New York in periods 2 and 3.

Sam Bennett jammed one home and in off of Shesterkin's skate.

Verhaeghe batted one out of the air and past Shesterkin after a pass from Tkachuk.

Those were the dirty-area goals that we typically see in an NHL postseason.

"We've been throwing a lot at them," Verhaeghe said. "They're not always pretty. Sometimes they're greasy."

We don't want to make too much of the old "shot attempts" statistic but it's been so ridiculously lopsided in favor of Florida these last two games we must make note.

Two days after a 108-43 edge in this category, Florida posted 88 shot attempts to 44 for the Rangers, including a 68-17 advantage in periods 2 and 3.

Florida finally beats Igor Shesterkin cleanly

Look, Shesterkin made a lot of key saves.

He's been a worthy foe to Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, the two exchanging body blows and gut punches from 200 feet away.

But that Alexis Lafrenière of the Rangers scored the only goal of period 3, a tap-in from Adam Fox, would seem to most teams to be deflating.

Florida, it seems, is different.

Florida, it seems, still has a bit of that 2023 magic in its skates.

"We believe," Barkov said.

"We believe," Bennett said.

The game-winner was set up when New York's Blake Wheeler, who hasn't played in months and is coming off a serious leg surgery, was, for some reason, on the ice early in the first overtime.

Wheeler's lack of, well, wheels, was exploited as Barkov raced in on a breakaway and was hooked by Wheeler.

It could have been a penalty shot.

Coach Maurice did not want to publicly admit he preferred the power play over a penalty shot against Shesterkin, who, well, excels against breakaways.

Sam Reinhart scores winner after no penalty shot awarded

The odds of scoring on a penalty shot or a power play in that spot are about equal.

But the Panthers have a lot of skill and their power play, when operating correctly, is hard to stop.

More: Panthers defeat Rangers in overtime to knot Stanley Cup Eastern Conference series at 2-all

Shesterkin didn't.

And what a series we have. It's headed back to New York 2-2 and there's every reason this thing will go the distance, a full seven games.

"They have an elite team," Maurice said. "If you play really well and really hard, you've got a chance. I think it's phenomenal hockey. It's 2-2. It's tight. It's great saves at both ends. Incredible skill. Incredible speed. Physicality. Two teams with good leadership. Great skill. If you're a fan of hockey, you're going to get entertained."

Joe Schad is a sports journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Help support our work by subscribing today.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Finals

Panthers at Rangers, Game 5 (series tied 2-2)

Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Sam Reinhart scores pretty OT winner as Panthers top Rangers in Game 4