Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP) - A few months ago, such a scenario was simply unimaginable. Brad Marchand scored overtime goals to win the playoffs, while the great Florida Panthers executive Roberto Luongo pumped his fists into his and provided some hugs for the celebration.

OK, this happened.

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They have history and many history, including four goals against Longong in the 2011 Stanley Cup final. The goals took place in games 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the series - exactly what Boston won in that game, denying the championships of Luango and the Vancouver Canucks that season.

But now, Rengo loves him. So, so are everyone else in Florida, from fan base to players and everyone in between. No one on the Florida roster has more points in these playoffs than Marchand, who will celebrate his 37th birthday on Sunday when he and the Panthers played Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"He brought so much life to our team," said Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe. "He was so energetic, obviously you'll see how he played on the ice. He's a great player and has been around for a long time. I mean, yes, not that long, but he's played by the player, he scored a lot in the big moments and he's done it."

Verhaeghe said when Marchand sat on his left. As he finished this answer, Marchand leaned over and whispered another thing he wanted Verhaeghe to add. Verhaeghe cordially agreed.

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“It looks good, too,” Verhaeghe said.

Marchand - once a Panthers' playoff opponent - was respected from Florida in just a few weeks. The shocking trade victory action brought Marchand from the Bruins to the Panthers is a huge story that has been improving now. Friday's OT goals added to his long history with Toronto, a team he faced in the playoffs, faced the playoffs on four other occasions and glided with a series title each time.

“Come in, everyone hugs me, welcomes me,” Markand said. "And I feel like I've built some really, really good friendships in a very short time. And when you see what the team is doing, what we want to do, what we want to do, what we want to do, what we want to do and how we do it, you want to buy it completely and be a part of it. We're so happy."

Among the players still in these playoffs, no one has more playoff points in his career Saturday than Marchand. Friday's OT game winner was his 146th place, bringing Alex Ovechkin's professional playoff title. (There are three active players - Sidney Crosby, who is with 201, Evgeni Malkin and 180-year-old Evgeni Malkin and 171-all scored more points in the playoffs, but their team is still not in the playoffs this year.)

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His experience is priceless, even for a team with a lot of players running to the Stanley Cup in Florida. Panthers forward AJ Greer (and a teammate of Marchand of Boston) said the former captain Bruins was "a remarkable man, an amazing player, and everyone respected him."

"He did check a lot of boxes, he brought a lot of stuff to this team, and we were so happy to have him," Greer said. "And I think Panthers fans are happy with him, too. I don't think anyone predicted that he would score for us a few months ago, but it was a really amazing journey and I'm really happy to have him."

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