Already on breakup day, some Islanders were bringing up the Panthers as an example of how they could find lightning in a bottle, should they stay the course.

Three weeks later, with Florida stunningly sweeping its way to the Stanley Cup Final, you can bet that the Panthers will be brought up regularly next season by any team that will be fighting for a playoff spot.

“I just think that the margin in this league is very small,” Matt Martin said on breakup day. “You need to click at the right time. … We’re sitting here today, I don’t think the Boston Bruins thought they would be out in the first round. But the Florida Panthers are a good hockey team. I don’t think Boston’s a bad team or a failure because they lost. There’s momentum swings, there’s things that happen in games that change the outlook.

“So I think as a team, we’re right there. … We’re confident as a group we can get the job done.”