Panthers author ‘stupefying’ upset, eliminate Bruins in Game 7

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins, who set new NHL records for regular-season success, have been eliminated in the Stanley Cup playoffs’ opening round after a 4-3 Game 7 overtime win by the Florida Panthers on Sunday night.

Winger Carter Verhaeghe’s goal 8:35 into overtime sent the Panthers into a wild celebration and left Bruins fans in stunned silence.

Florida’s Sam Bennett fought hard on the forecheck to move the puck to Verhaeghe. With Matthew Tkachuk screening goalie Jeremy Swayman, Verhaeghe found room to score his second of the series.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Tkachuk, staring at a postgame score sheet. “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.”

Florida advances to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. The Leafs eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, winning their first playoff series since 2004.

“The way it ended didn’t matter. It’s just that the season’s over. I guess the words that come to mind right now are disappointment and confusion,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said.

The Panthers completed their comeback after trailing 3-1 in the series, winning three straight games to eliminate Boston. They rallied to force overtime on a goal by defenseman Brandon Montour with a minute left in regulation.

“We were two minutes away from being in a very sad mood right now,” Tkachuk said. “But [Montour] pulled us through. We live to fight another day.”

The 2022-23 Bruins were the most successful regular-season team in NHL history, setting league records for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season.

But with that success came the unique pressure of going wire-to-wire as the NHL’s best. As winger Brad Marchand told ESPN in March: “It’s not about the regular season. If you win the Presidents’ Trophy but you don’t win the Cup, nobody cares. That’s what we know on this team.”

To…