Panther's Matthew Tkachuk - Not a series without a win tonight - ESPN

SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk went one step further than simply calling Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final a must-win for his team, indicating that the series hinges on what happens on Thursday night.

«You can't make it a series unless you win this game tonight,» said the Panthers star, as the action shifts to South Florida after the Vegas Golden Knights won the series' first two games at home.

«Coming back home, I think it's a breath of fresh air for everyone. To take care of home ice, like we have all playoffs, and make this a series,» said Tkachuk.

Florida is only 4-3 on home ice in the playoffs, but they've had some big moments in Sunrise: Avoiding elimination in Game 6 against Boston, putting a stake in the Toronto Maple Leafs with a Game 3 overtime win and then closing an Eastern Conference Final sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes.

«It's a must-win. We know the situation,» said forward Anthony Duclair. «I think even going back to the Boston series, it's just not a position you want to be in, but at the same time, it brings the best out of us. We're just looking forward to the challenge, especially coming in at home.»

One of the biggest challenges for the Panthers against the Golden Knights has been navigating the physicality of this series. Florida came out hitting in both games. Vegas withstood that barrage and handed out a number of big hits of its own.

Florida coach Paul Maurice said he felt his Panthers were expending too much energy chasing checks against Vegas.

«I think the Boston series was more physical than this series. I think we've made this series more physical than it needs to be,» he said. «We had 22 hits in the first period of Game 2. Prorate that out and you don't need 66