Panthers top Capitals in OT in Game 6, win first playoff series since '96

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueThe Panthers won Game 6 in overtime 4-3 behind Claude Giroux's 3-point night, Carter Verhaeghe's winner and Sergei Bobrovsky's 34 savesWASHINGTON -- Carter Verhaeghe scored at 2:46 of overtime, and the Florida Panthers eliminated the Washington Capitals with a 4-3 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Capital One Arena on Friday.Verhaeghe received a pass in the slot from Claude Giroux and lifted a backhand past Ilya Samsonov to give the Panthers their first series win since 1996."It feels amazing," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. Capitals series coverage] Giroux had a goal and two assists for the Panthers, who gave up the tying goal late in the third period before advancing to the second round, where they will face either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning."To give up a late goal, those are heartbreaking moments," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. That epitomizes what the whole season was."Video: FLA@WSH, Gm6: Verhaeghe ends Game 6, series in OTSergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves for Florida, which earned the Presidents' Trophy for the best regular-season record in the NHL.Nic Dowd, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie scored for the Capitals, who were the second wild card in the East. Guys had a feeling that if we play our game, we're going to get our chances and we'll be able to score."Barkov gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead at 14:17 when he converted a pass across the slot from Giroux after Samsonov made a save on MacKenzie Weegar's shot.Backstrom put the Capitals ahead 2-1 at 1:37 of the third, deflecting Justin Schultz's shot from the point past Bobrovsky.Giroux tied it 2-2 at 8:18 with a wrist shot from the right circle off a pass from Aaron Ekblad on the rush."That's obviously part of the things that you've got to do to be successful in the playoffs.