Aided by Sam Reinhart’s four goals, the Florida Panthers have repeated as Stanley Cup Champions, defeating Edmonton in Game 6 by a score of 5-1. For his efforts, pending free agent Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe after posting 15 goals throughout the playoffs.
Florida’s stars shone bright throughout the playoffs, including fantastic efforts by the likes of Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk, and, of course, solid play between the pipes from star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. Remarkably, the Panthers had nine players record at least 15 points throughout the playoffs, with six recording at least 20 points. However, Bennett led the way with his incredible finishing ability. His knack for elevating his game in the playoffs culminated in a well-deserved Conn Smythe win, and he’s now poised to cash in on his next contract.
For Edmonton, it’s another season that has ended in heartbreak. Despite another postseason of heroics from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers were once again undone by their defensive flaws and inconsistent goaltending. For his part, McDavid has amassed an absurd 75 points over the last two playoffs, including last season’s Conn Smythe win, while Draisaitl added an incredible 65 points in that time. However, both stars will have to wait for their shot at hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Bobrovsky turned aside 28 of Edmonton’s 29 shots. “Bob” was particularly strong in the second period, turning aside 10 shots, including several high-danger chances. A key moment came midway through the second period when McDavid and Corey Perry broke out on a two-on-one. However, Perry couldn’t get solid contact on McDavid’s pass through the crease. Just a few minutes later, Reinhart potted his second of the game, giving Florida a commanding 3-0 lead and essentially putting the game out of reach. He scored his third and fourth goals on empty-netters late in the third period.
With the Stanley Cup Finals concluded, another NHL season comes to a close. Attention now turns to a busy offseason schedule, which includes the NHL Draft and the start of free agency in the next few weeks.
Edmonton never had a chance with that abysmal goaltending. Like just brutal, I feel really bad for that whole team and their fanbase.
But man… Panthers back to back champs after years and years of bottomfeeding, wasted picks, bad signings and barely a sniff at the playoffs. Now, the best team in the league two years running.
And Toronto fans? Only one team pushed the Cats to 7.
suck it national Media yesss!!!!!!!!!
I was rooting so hard for the Panthers so that pathetic POS Stan Bowman wouldn’t get his hands anywhere near the Stanley Cup again. Way to go Florida.! Congrats!
Amen to that. Bowman doesn’t deserve to sniff another Cup
Condemning Bowman for the actions of 2 consenting adults is strange to me. He definitely did not handle the abuse of power well but it was a bizarre situation.
Darn fine team, and dare I say it, underrated even winning two I’m a row.
Congrats to FLA! A DYNASTY NOW!
Very true, And what makes it more impressive is that dynasties are rare in the salary cap era.
They are the third team to win two in a row in the cap era . . .
Does 2 wins make a dynasty? I dunno. I’m a devils fan and I wouldn’t call 1999-2003 a dynasty. 2 cups and other conference finals… guess it’s just perspective. Long time since we saw genuine 4 or 5 year in a row dynasty cup winners
I agree; I think 3 is the minimum even to be considered a dynasty (doesn’t even have to be consecutive — people say the 2010, 2012, 2014 SF Giants are a dynasty). If they hold onto Bennett, I wouldn’t bet against them next year. I don’t like them, but I would say they were a dynasty.
I do think that in the post-expansion era, it’s so much harder to be dynastic, so I would argue we might loosen the rules a bit and say the Lidstrom-era Red Wings were a dynasty, and even the Kane-era Hawks. I think you could even make a case for the Devils, because Brodeur ties those three championships together.
Last NHL dynasty was the 1980-84 New York Islanders. 19 consecutive playoff series, 4 consecutive Stanley Cups, and should have had the fifth. Oilers may have won more Cups, but they weren’t consecutive.
They have been to 3 in a row, won 2. I’ll crown them.
It’s always about defense, And goaltending. The Oilers haven’t figured that out yet.
One player versus five won’t ever work. Maybe if McDavid wants to win a cup then he should take an under market deal in July 2026 and join the three time defending champs.
Where is @ feel the teardrops now? Usually the first to put in his two cents but now crickets. Dry your tears. You were 0-4 in your predictions.
I guess it is hard for him to type thru all the tears. Or maybe it is past his bedtime?
What’s not to like? They control the puck, Play defense, Have maybe the best Goalie in Hockey, Their role players play their roles and if you want to try and intimidate them they’ll hand you your lunch. There’s really nothing they can’t do or any way they can’t play. I still cry when I see Gustav Forsling playing or Florida when he was the best young player on a bad Hawks team and didn’t even get an offer sheet although I might be wrong about that. The kids a smart Hockey player and knows how to play the game. Dumb.
Hyman’s injury was too big of a blow for Edmonton, the secondary scoring was gone as was a more capable linemate for McDavid and Draisaitl, as a fan of neither team (Blackhawks fan) i feel this finals didn’t live up to the same hype as last year, there was 3 great games and 3 blowouts where only 1 team showed up to the rink, despite last year having been a 3-0 series lead and the history on the line with more nail biter games, as an unbiased fan here i was disappointed and didn’t finish watching some games just like “this game is over”, wish this series was as watchable or closer as the last few finals were
Well I’m a Hawks fan too but the saddest part about that is because I watched the Playoffs I actually saw more Panthers games this year than I did my own team because the stupid owner and his pathetic 20 Watt TV station weren’t able to be seen except for a 10 mile radius around the stadium. I feel like I went back to the ‘s when there were a few games on WGN and that was it. Too bad Rocky passed away because he was at least on the fans side where the other Wirtz’s are pathetic morons. Major Hockey town with a 20 cent owner again.
Went back to the 60’s. Not sure how that dropped out.
The G issue is obvious.
But, man, they need to jettison Evan Bouchard. That guy plays the opposite of winning hockey.
onto the draft, free agency, and buyout window (the next 48 hours)
I keep waiting for the Bulls to make a trade before the draft but they’re even bigger idiots with a more pathetic owner than the Hawks and now they’ve pooled their combine IQ’s together and came up with a negative score. This town deserves better.
Congrats to the Panthers! And thank you for keeping the Cup away from the Oilers! :)
& from Canada!:)
It was great to see a rejuvenated Brad Marchand get another cup. as a Bruins fan, I’ve always loved his play, and while I wasn’t rooting for Florida, I was rooting for him.
I was hoping he’d get the Conn Symthe, but Bennett deserved it.
Jeezzz….how many cup losses for Corey Perry now? They need to make some kind of runner up trophy and name it after him.
The Buffalo Bill Award.
When is the last time a team won a Cup without $6-10 million in extra cap space from LTIR?
@66TNOTB – The Panthers. Quite literally last year. They finished the season with $39,566 in space but no IR slots were filled.
That Marchand trade seems like genius for FLA now. And he just went from fighting BOS for a small-potatoes new deal to having at least half-a-dozen teams line up to give him maybe $8 million per year on a limited term deal. Good for the rat!