Bruins vs. Panthers score: Florida stuns Boston in Game 7 behind Carter Verhaeghe's game-winning goal in OT

Boston had a 3-1 lead in the series at one point

The Boston Bruins put together a historic season in which they tallied an NHL record 135 points. But instead of making a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers, who finished a whopping 43 points behind the Bruins in the regular season standings, won Game 7 in overtime courtesy of a goal from forward Carter Verhaeghe on Sunday night.

Verhaeghe buried a snap shot past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman thanks to a screen from Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk had dug the puck free behind the net before Sam Bennett found a wide-open Verhaeghe, who scored from the face-off circle.

With the win, the Panthers became just the second team in NHL history to defeat the Presidents' Trophy winner after trailing 3-1 in any series.

The Panthers were trailing 3-2 late in the third period of Game 7 after surrendering three unanswered goals. With one minute to go in regulation, defenseman Brandon Montour deposited the puck past Swayman. The puck went off of Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron's skate and Montour ripped home the game-tying goal as he was in the right place at the right time in the face-off circle.

The Panthers scored the opening two goals of the game after Montour and forward Sam Reinhart found the back of the net. Montour finished with two goals after registering a goal and an assist in Florida's 7-5 win over the Bruins in Game 6.

Boston did respond with three goals of their own, including star winger David Pastrnak putting the Bruins ahead 3-2 at the 4:11 mark of the third period on a rebound that he slapped home. That marked Pastrnak's fifth goal of the series. David Krejci and Tyler Bertuzzi also registered one goal apiece for the Bruins.

Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 33 of the 36 shots that he faced. This comes after he yielded five goals to the Bruins in a Game 6 win.

Now the Panthers will take on their Atlantic Division rivals in the Toronto Maple Leafs, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the opening round.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:51 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Carter Verhaeghe nets the game-winner and the Panthers have upset the top-seeded Bruins in the opening round. What a series.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:44 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

The Panthers are controlling puck possessions through the first four minutes of overtime. They've definitely got the Bruins reeling right now.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:43 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Carter Verhaeghe drives one on net off a pass from Anthony Duclair, but Jeremy Swayman is able to deflect that aside. Tremendous stop by Swayman again.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:39 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Matthew Tkachuk was in all alone on the breakaway with a chance to win the series, but Jeremy Swayman shut the door. What a sequence.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:23 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

Panthers 3, Bruins 3 -- End of 3rd period

The Panthers looked dead in the water before Brandon Montour deposited the puck past Jeremy Swayman with a minute to go in regulation. The puck went off of Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron's skate and Montour ripped home the game-tying goal. It was Montour's second goal of the night. That was after the Bruins had scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period. We've got overtime in Boston in Game 7.

[Apr 30, 2023 at 9:19 pm ET · Chris Bengel]

We're headed to overtime in Game 7. Brandon Montour's goal with a minute to go in regulation tied things up at 3-3. Just when it looked like the Bruins were going to escape with the win.