The Wild Card Panthers and Presidents' Trophy winners from Boston were separated by 43 points in the standings
The Florida Panthers are moving on to round two after pulling off an epic upset of the league-best Boston Bruins.
It was an amazing accomplishment for a team that has worked extremely hard, literally from day one – the first five days of training camp were brutal – changing how they played, overcoming injuries and a ridiculous road schedule to achieve something very few thought they could.
The feeling among Florida’s players after Carter Verhaeghe, for the second year in a row, scored a series-clinching goal in overtime was one of jubilation and of faith being rewarded.
Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice had been telling his players all season, if they did things his way, the results would come.
The gradual process finally seemed to kick into gear just in the nick of time, as Florida scratched and clawed its way to a Wild Card spot in the final days of the regular season.
Now they just knocked off the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Several Panthers players spoke after the emotionally exhausting and exhilarating game, and here are some of the notable things that were said.
Sergei Bobrovsky on a deserved victory: “The feeling in the locker room was unbelievable. We beat a really good team, a really strong team. I think we deserve it, with the adversity will had all season long. This is so much fun.”
Brandon Montour on the overtime mindset: “We were looking for that next big play. It's overtime of Game 7. Everyone in this room wanted to be a big part of that play or that hit or pass, and obviously Carter did it for us.”
Verhaeghe on Montour’s game-tying goal: “I was so happy. Just a relief. Just a rollercoaster of emotions.”
Matthew Tkachuk on pulling off the upset: “Let's be honest, nobody in the whole world thought we were going to win this series except for the guys in that room. It's a pretty cool feeling right now.”
Sasha Barkov on where this win ranks: “This one, Game 7, overtime, against pretty much the best team in regular season history, it's something unreal, for sure. It's up there.”
Maurice on the confidence level before and after Montour’s game-tying goal: “I wouldn't bet everything, because the math doesn't add up…except when that puck goes in, I go, ‘We're gonna win this game.’”