Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Game 2

Panthers 4, Devils 2 (Box Score, Recap)

MVP

Stephen Weiss: For the first time in his career, all of which has been spent as a member of the Florida Panthers, Stephen Weiss was on the winning end of a playoff game. Not only was he finally able to taste victory in the postseason, he was a huge part of it by helping to set the tone for the Panthers in the first period with a pair of goals, the first two of his postseason career.

Turning Point

On Friday the Panthers were dominated from the drop of the puck and allowed the Devils to race out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, firing 26 shots on goal.

It was the exact opposite start on Sunday as the Panthers earned a power play just 12 seconds and then struck on the man advantage just 18 seconds after that.

The Panthers carried a 3-0 lead into the third period but nearly let it slip away after giving up two quick goals, but were able to hang on to even the series.

It Was...

Kind of historic. For the Panthers it's their first playoff win since April 17, 1997. That is the longest gap between playoff wins for a franchise in NHL history, so needless to say it's been a long time coming.

Oh, and the Rats are back, as Panthers fans littered the ice with plastic rodents following the game, bringing back memories of their improbable Stanley Cup final run in 1996.

If you're a Panthers fan that stuck with them through that drought, give yourself a pat on the back.

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