The Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final after beating the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Sam Bennett scored his sixth goal of the post-season to get the Panthers on the board in the first period after wiring a shot past Igor Shesterkin. Then midway through the third period, Vladimir Tarasenko provided Florida with some much-needed breathing room with his first goal of the series.
The Rangers made a late push in the third period with Artemi Panarin getting his team on the board with 1:40 left in the game. Igor Shesterkin stopped 32 shots for New York, who had a 2-1 lead in the series — then lost three straight, costing them their season.
It was the Rangers’ longest losing streak since mid-January and means that, for the 11th consecutive year, the team that finishes with the NHL’s best regular season record won’t go on to win the Stanley Cup.
This is the second straight year that Florida has lifted the Prince of Wales Trophy after going on a Cinderella run to the Cup Final last season. Just like last year, the Panthers eliminated the Presidents’ Trophy winners on their way to the Cup Final after beating the Boston Bruins in Round 1.
Florida is also the first Stanley Cup runner-up to return to the final the following season since the Pittsburgh Penguins did it back in 2009
The Panthers will play for the Stanley Cup for the third time. The Panthers were swept by Colorado in 1996 and lost 4-1 to Vegas last season. It’s also the third time in the final for Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who lost with Carolina in 2002 and then with Florida last year.
Florida will face either Edmonton or Dallas for the Cup, the title series set to start on June 8.
If Edmonton — which leads the West final 3-2 — advances, Game 1 of the title round will be on Florida’s ice. If Dallas wins the West, the Stars will have home-ice advantage for the title series. The Oilers can clinch that series on Sunday night.
–With files from the Associated Press.
In a thrilling Game 6 matchup, the Florida Panthers secured a hard-fought victory over the New York Rangers to advance to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers, who had a dominant regular season, faced a tough challenge from the Rangers throughout the series, but ultimately came out on top with a 4-2 series win.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading goals and momentum shifts throughout. The Panthers got off to a strong start, taking an early lead in the first period thanks to a goal from star forward Aleksander Barkov. However, the Rangers quickly responded with a goal of their own to tie the game up.
The second period saw both teams ramp up the intensity, with the Panthers managing to regain the lead thanks to a power-play goal from defenseman Aaron Ekblad. The Rangers continued to push back, tying the game once again with a goal late in the period.
As the game entered the third period, tensions were high as both teams battled for control. The Panthers managed to break the deadlock with a goal from Jonathan Huberdeau, giving them a crucial lead with just minutes left in the game. The Rangers fought hard to try and force overtime, but a late empty-net goal from Sam Reinhart sealed the victory for the Panthers.
The win was a testament to the Panthers’ resilience and determination, as they overcame a tough opponent in the Rangers to secure their spot in the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row. With a talented roster and strong leadership from players like Barkov and Ekblad, the Panthers will be looking to make history by bringing home their first Stanley Cup championship.
As they prepare to face off against their final opponent, the Panthers will be looking to build on their momentum and continue their winning ways. Fans can expect an exciting and competitive series as the Panthers look to etch their names in hockey history with a championship victory.