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The Florida Panthers were long shots back in March to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. Had you bet them at that time, you could be looking at a $6500 payout on a $100 bet.
Sunday night the Panthers knocked off the best team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins. Boston had set a new record for regular season success in fact. The final score in OT was 4-3.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," said Florida's Matthew Tkachuk. "The talent they have over there in Boston is unbelievable. That we were able to do what we did after what they did all year ... the fact that we were able to beat them in the playoffs is crazy."
Tkachuk has played a pivotal role in the Panthers success this playoffs. He scored two goals, one on the power play, and added a power-play assist in Friday's 7-5 win over the Bruins.
Winger Carter Verhaeghe's goal 8:35 into overtime sent the Panthers into a wild celebration and left Bruins fans in stunned silence.
The Panthers completed a rally from being down 3-1 in the series, winning three straight games to eliminate Boston.
Florida advances to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. Toronto will have home advantage.
The Panthers will be looking to win their first ever Stanley Cup. The team made one appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996, but ultimately fell to the Colorado Avalanche.
- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com
