Taking a moment to appreciate where the Panthers are and just how far the franchise has come

The Florida Panthers have sure come a long way.

For those who have been following the team for a while, it probably doesn’t feel like that long ago when just making the playoffs felt like an amazing accomplishment.

Buying postseason shirts and hats, packing the Sunrise hockey barn and getting a taste of some of the most cherished moments and feelings in all of professional sports…man, was it cool.

Little did we know what was to come.

Thanks to guys like Matthew Caldwell, Bill Zito and Paul Maurice, the Panthers are not only a perennial playoff team, but they are also annual Stanley Cup contenders.

Tuesday’s victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of their second round series gave Florida a birth in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season.

While digesting that statement, let’s take a moment and go over the checklist of recent success.

Five straight playoff appearances.

Three straight years advancing to at least the second round.

Two straight years reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

Eleven straight playoff overtime wins.

Now the Panthers will face the New York Rangers for a right to play in the Stanley Cup Final.

It’s crazy to think how far this franchise has come.

Whether you’re a new fan of the team or one whose been through the first Final run and the dark ages, I suggest you sit back (or stand up and cheer) and enjoy the ride, because these runs don’t come along often.

Next up, the Eastern Conference Finals. 

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