Florida needed its best players to step up in Game 3 and they delivered

Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky were huge for the Panthers in Thursday's Stanley Cup Final victory

If there was ever a time the Florida Panthers needed their star players to rise to the occasion, it was Thursday night.

Sitting in an 0-2 hole and facing the possibility of having to overcome a nearly impossible situation, the only thing the Panthers knew was that they had to win.

Sure, Florida wanted to get back to playing the way they did during the previous two playoff rounds, but at the end of the day, get the win. How you get there is inconsequential.

“Our goal was to come in and win a game,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “We had to find a way.”

They did just that, playing with more poise and controlling more of the pace than we’d seen during the first two games in Vegas.

There was more to the win, though.

Florida’s big names, the guys they’ve counted on time and time again throughout the season and during the playoffs, were there to save the day for the Panthers.

Sergei Bobrovsky was brilliant yet again in goal.

Matthew Tkachuk scored a game-tying goal with Bob on the bench in the final minutes.

Verhaeghe scored another playoff overtime goal.

The usual suspects, the guys you look to when a big play is needed, pulled it off.

Bob’s brilliance has him back in the Conn Smythe conversation while Verhaeghe and Tkachuk are now tied for the league lead with four game-winning goals apiece during the playoffs.

They’ve also each scored a series-clinching goal (Tkachuk and Verhaeghe. Not Bob.)

Florida is a perfect 7-0 during overtimes this playoff.

Tkachuk has scored three OT winners and Verhaeghe has two; Tkachuk in Game 5 against Boston and Games 1 and 2 against Carolina, Verhaeghe in Game 7 against Boston and Thursday night’s Game 3 winner.

After winning the biggest game (to date) in franchise history, Florida’s key contributors, and their teammates, spoke about one another.

All of the following quotes are from after Game 3:

Sasha Barkov on Tkachuk: “You see what he’s doing night in and night out. I’ve said so many good things about him.”

Brandon Montour on Verhaeghe: “He’s a shooter. We tell him to shoot as much as he can. He’s a big player for our team and obviously big players need to come up (with) big times and it was nice for him to get another one.”

Verhaeghe on Tkachuk: “He’s so good around the net. I just tried to get the puck to him there and he made a great play.”

Sam Reinhart on Verhaeghe: “His release, his shot…he works it every day. We have all the confidence in the world in him when he’s got it on his stick in that position.”

Verhaeghe on Bobrovsky: “You’ve seen all playoffs he’s been unbelievable. Without him we’re not here.”

Tkachuk on Verhaeghe: “He has the nose for the net, he's got an unbelievable shot and he finds the soft areas like not many guys can. His skating obviously allows him to be one of the top players in the league. He’s got that offensive package that you very rarely see. You saw the shot tonight, it wasn't screened, it just beat him clean, and he has that ability. Not many guys have that ability from that far out.”

Verhaeghe turned to Tkachuk after he said that and smiled as he said, “Thanks pal.”

Bobrovsky on Verhaeghe and Tkachuk: “They’ve done it for us the whole year long. It’s outstanding to see.”

Barkov on Verhaeghe: “He's one of those guys who just has that in him. He has an incredible shot, whenever he shoots, it’s dangerous, no matter from where. To have that guy on the ice in overtime, it's always dangerous. I would give the puck to him anytime.”

Montour on Bobrovsky: “He’s got all the confidence and we all have the confidence in him.”