Trocheck was tripped! As Florida Panthers fans, we are still reading, writing, saying and hearing this refrain almost four years later.
What would have happened had Matt Martin not gotten away with his pretty blatant trip on Vincent Trocheck with 1:09 remaining and Florida up 1-0 on the road, putting them on the verge of tying the 2016 First Round series with New York Islanders at three games apiece?
John Tavares would tie the tilt about fifteen seconds after the non-call and the Panthers would go on to lose the game 2-1, just like they did in Game 5, in double-overtime when the Islanders sniper beaten Roberto Luongo again 10:41 into the second extra frame.
Would the Cats have been able to regroup and win the hard-fought series in Game 7 on home ice and move on to meet the Tampa Bay Lightning for the first time in the postseason?
Or would Thomas Greiss & Co. been able to close the door and keep the history essentially the same?
The Islanders faced the Lightning in the second round and went down in five games. Would Florida, surprise winners of the Atlantic Division, have done better, maybe even upsetting the Bolts?
Let us know what you think.
What would’ve happened if the Panthers won Game 6 against the Islanders?
| They would have lost Game 7 | 10 |
| They would’ve won Game 7 and gone on to lose to Tampa Bay | 37 |
| They would’ve won Game 7 and gone on to beat Tampa Bay | 13 |