Colby Guy
SUNRISE — Carter Verhaeghe’s performance in the Florida Panthers series win over the Washington Capitals is something that has never been seen before in franchise history.
In the 10 playoff series Florida has played in, no one scored more goals nor points than Verhaeghe.
He put up six goals and 12 points in six, edging out Jonathan Huberdeau’s 10-point performance during the 2021 playoffs.
That included two overtime winning goals (including the goal that won the Panthers their first playoff series in 26 years) and a five-point performance in a pivotal Game 5.
“It’s kind of crazy,” he said. “It has been a bit of a whirlwind. When you’re growing up, you dream about scoring those big goals in the playoffs. It’s surreal.”
Thursday, Verhaeghe was not at the morning skate but is expected to play — as was the case in Game 6.
“Swagiuex,” as Florida coach Andrew Brunette likes to call him, knows what it takes to win in the NHL’s biggest stage.
Albeit in a smaller role, Verhaeghe had two assists in eight games en route to a Stanley Cup victory with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020.
That offseason, he signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Panthers with a big opportunity ahead of him.
“Right when I got here, I got a huge opportunity to play different minutes than I played in Tampa,” Verhaeghe said. “I think my minutes almost doubled and I was a more reliable part of the team. It was different, but it grew my confidence and helped me develop into a different player.”
Of course, he had to earn it — and he did.
If you asked anyone at any stop Verhaeghe made throughout his career, either in the minors or in the NHL, they would tell you his work ethic was unmatched.
“Tampa developed him,” Brunette said, “He got into the lineup as a part of the group that won the Cup and he practiced, saw how hard and fast those guys did things and I think it picked his pace up another level. He came here, had an opportunity and seized it.”
And that work ethic has rubbed off on his teammates as well.
“Since the day he joined us, we loved him,” Sasha Barkov said. “We love him as a guy, we love him as a player, everything he does is great and we really like to be around him. He comes to the rink and makes your day a lot better than it was going to be.”
During his first season with the Panthers, Verhaeghe was placed on the top line with Barkov.
After finishing that season with 18 goals and 36 points in 48 games, it would be where he would stay throughout his Panthers career.
“Ever since we were put on the same line, it just clicked right away,” Barkov said. “We just know each other really well. Carter is a really good player, high skill, sees the ice really well, he has a great shot and a great mindset,”
However, Barkov has yet to see anything like this out of Verhaeghe.
Even after a career 2021-22 season where Verhaeghe put up 24 goals and 55 points in 78 games, he has taken his game to yet another level.
“I didn’t know the type of player he was when he got here, but ever since Day 1, he has impressed me,” Barkov said. “He keeps impressing me every day.”
That has been a fair assessment to his game in the playoffs so far, particularly in the three-striaght wins the Panthers rode to close out the series.
He scored five goals and nine points in Games 4-6, with just three of Florida’s goals not coming from him.
“Anytime you come into the playoffs, you want to help the team win and do everything you can,” Verhaeghe said. “The game is elevated, everyone is playing a little harder and everyone has to step up their game for the team to win.
“That’s something I want to do, but things have been kind of crazy. Shots have been going in that weren’t going in during the year. But you go through ups and downs and I have to get some good bounces. You just gotta stick with it.”
As the second round rolls along, Verhaeghe is looking to keep a short memory, yet continue to do the same things that made him successful in the first round.
“I think every game you kind of forget about the last game because it doesn’t matter: Every game is new, no two games are the same, especially when playing different teams,” Verhaeghe said.
“I think you kind of forget about it, especially in the playoffs, and turn the page. It’s a new opportunity.”
That new opportunity will come against a team he is very familiar with: The Lightning.
“I know a lot of guys over there and it was more weird [playing against them in the playoffs] last year, but I think I’m more familiar with playing against them now,” Verhaeghe said.
“I learned a lot being in that organization for three years and I definitely grew as a player, but we’ve moved on now and it’s still a little weird playing against them.”
NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
PANTHERS V. LIGHTNING (TB leads 1-0)
- Game 2: Thursday, 7 p.m.
- Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise
- TV/Streaming: TNT
- Postgame: Bally Sports Florida
- Radio: WQAM 560 (Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WMEN 640 (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3 (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Tickets: CLICK HERE
PANTHERS V. LIGHTNING
- Regular season series — Tied 2-2: Florida 4, @Lightning 1 (Oct. 19); @Lightning 3, Florida 2 OT (Nov. 13); @Florida 9, Lightning 3 (Dec 30); Tampa Bay 8, @Florida 4 (April 24).
- All-time regular season series: Panthers lead 73-49-18, 10 ties
- Playoff history: Second meeting; Tampa Bay d. Florida 4-2 in R1, 2021
- Round 1: Florida d. Washington 4-2; Tampa Bay d. Toronto 4-3
- Full schedule — Game 1: Tampa Bay 4, @Florida 2; Game 2: Tampa Bay at Florida, Thursday, 7 (TNT); Game 3: Florida at Tampa Bay, Sunday, 1:30 (TNT); Game 4: Florida at Tampa Bay, Monday, 7 (TNT); Game 5*: Tampa Bay at Florida, Wednesday, May 25 (Time, TV TBA); Game 6*: Florida at Tampa Bay Lightning, Friday, May 27 (Time, TV TBA); Game 7*: Tampa Bay at Florida, Sunday, May 29 (Time, TV TBA). (*) — If necessary.