GUSTAV FORSLING

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON — (AP) — When the Florida Panthers faced their first real adversity of the season trailing their playoff series against the Washington Capitals, players held a meeting to set things straight. “We held each other accountable, worked really hard for each other and for the guy next to you. Initial nerves at home early in the series faded when Florida started to feel the pressure. Then the Panthers started to look and play like themselves and moved on to face the winner of the series between the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. No team scored as many goals as the Panthers during the regular season — a rate of 4.11 a game not seen since Mario Lemieux's Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Florida Panthers found what made them the NHL's best regular-season team just in time to win the franchise's first playoff series in 26 years.

Carter Verhaeghe scored the overtime winner to send the Panthers to the second round by beating the Washington Capitals 4-3 in Game 6.

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Panthers Red Wings Hockey Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) skates in the crease as the Florida Panthers celebrate a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 17, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio)DETROIT — (AP) — Anton Lundell scored twice and the Florida Panthers extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 6-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. “They got two quick, three quick and we didn’t respond, we didn’t get back at them,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. MILESTONEBefore the game, the Red Wings and Panthers honored referee Brian Pochmara for his 1,000th game. Red Wings visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.

Anton Lundell scored twice and the Florida Panthers extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 6-1 rout of the Detroit Red Wings.

“You just don’t throw experience on the ice and experience wins the game. You still have to play the game,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “We’ve had 2-1 leads before in playoff series and know how to deal with that,” Cooper added. “I think Game 1 could have went either way, so we were close in all the games,” Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau said. A look at other games on Saturday:PENGUINS at ISLANDERS, Penguins lead series 2-1 (3 p.m. EDT, NBC)The Penguins have been successful in stopping the Islanders from building much momentum.

Postseason experience can be a valuable asset in the NHL playoffs.

Ryan Lomberg scored on a breakaway 5:56 into overtime to cap a furious comeback and give the Florida Panthers a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup.