Panthers embracing underdog role ahead of Game 7 against Bruins

The Florida Panthers have embraced their underdog status from the start of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Boston Bruins, and their attitude isn't about to change heading into Game 7.

The Panthers have won two straight games to even the series, including 7-5 in Game 6 at FLA Live Arena on Friday. The decisive Game 7 will be at TD Garden in Boston on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS, NESN, BSFL).
"We definitely expect it to be buzzing tomorrow," Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "For this whole group] here, it's been us against the whole hockey world and what everybody says. [The Bruins]*
However, the Panthers also got key third-period goals on Friday from bottom-six forwards Eetu Luostarinen and Zac Dalpe.
"We're gonna have to have that [balance] tomorrow, because to get to Game 7 against that team, you have to have all 20 playing kind of at their peak, and then you get the Dalpe, Luostarinen payoff there," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "We're going to need that. It's going to be a puck that gets to a net ... I don't think there's going to be a coast-to-coast play. I don't think they're going to allow it. It's too hard a game. It'll be somebody that's just so determined to get the puck to the net that can make the difference."
The Panthers, who were the second wild card from the Eastern Conference, finished the regular season 43 points behind the Bruins, the biggest point differential in a playoff series since 1996, when the Detroit Red Wings finished 53 points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets (Detroit won the series in six games).
Florida won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL team with the best regular-season record in 2021-22 but was swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers are now in position to eliminate the Presidents' Trophy-winning Bruins one round earlier this season.

"We'll see what type of game comes tomorrow," Tkachuk said. "But we're ready for each and every type of game. And us being able to win a game like that (Friday) against a powerhouse offensive juggernaut like that, it shows that we can score goals. And we've had trouble earlier in the series coming back and we did it a few times, so I think that can also make us a confident team.
"Hopefully we're saving our best for last tomorrow. One thing I can say is whatever everybody has left in the tank, it'll be all left out there tomorrow. And we're just excited to go after the head of the beast in Boston and playing on the road in a Game 7 against a team like that, I don't even know what to say. It's super exciting."