Former Leaf scores OT winner, sets up 2nd round matchup with Toronto
Carter Verhaeghe was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs but never suited up with the Buds as he was traded to the New York Islanders as part of a package deal that brought over Michael Grabner. He's now got 4 years under his belt but none bigger than 2022-23, where he not only scored a career-high 42 goals and 73 points, he also scored the Game 7 overtime winner against the mighty Boston Bruins.
The Florida Panthers trailed in the series 3-1, and went on to win the final 3 games in the series as they pulled off the upset that nobody was expecting. In Game 7, the Panthers held an early 2-0 lead before coughing it up early in the third period.
The Bruins clogged the neutral zone for a majority of the final period but with the goaltender pulled, Brandon Montour tied the game up, setting up Verhaeghe for his biggest moment to date. The puck was loose behind the net before Sam Bennett picked it up and found Verhaeghe alone at the face-off dot before he ripped one top shelf over Jeremy Swayman.
Now that the dust is slowly settling, the Panthers will face the Maple Leafs in Round 2 in what should be a spirited battle between the divisional foes. The Leafs just went through the gauntlet in defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Panthers are entering the series with emotions high after taking down the President Trophy winners.
Former Maple Leafs bench boss Paul Maurice returns, Matthew Tkachuk always seems to cause a stir-up, and Aleksander Barkov will be tasked in shutting down Auston Matthews. It is going to be an exciting series to say the least and somewhat gratifying that it won't be against Boston.
