The Stanley Cup Final is fast approaching, as the two tightly contested conference finals come to a close.
Last night, in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Florida Panthers had the chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second season running by defeating the New York Rangers.
To do so, they were at home in Sunrise in front of their home fans.
Panthers win another close game and eliminate the Rangers
From the outset, we’ve become accustomed to extremely close games in this series, and yesterday was no exception.
For the fifth time in a row, the game ended with a one-goal margin between the two teams, as the Panthers prevailed 2-1 in regulation time.
It was late in the first period that Florida opened the scoring with Sam Bennett’s inbound missile.
SAM BENNETT WITH A ROCKET π
The @FlaPanthers are up 1-0! #StanleyCup
πΊπΈ: ABC & @ESPNPlus β‘οΈ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
π¨π¦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ β‘οΈ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/9BQ3n9pNws– NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2024
The Panthers can say a big thank you to Rangers captain Jacob Trouba (#8) on the sequence, as he was easily beaten to speed along the boards by Evan Rodrigues.
We then had to wait until the third period before seeing another goal.
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As the Panthers continued to dominate the shootout (it ended 34-24 for the Panthers), it finally went in, this time through 32-year-old veteran Vladimir Tarasenko.
TARASENKO MAKES IT 2-0 FLORIDA π€― #StanleyCup
πΊπΈ: ABC & @ESPNPlus β‘οΈ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
π¨π¦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ β‘οΈ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/xbIhvfVt7y– NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2024
With just over ten minutes left in the game, and the way things had been going since the start, it really felt like this lead would be enough for the Panthers.
And indeed, despite a final push from the Rangers in the closing minutes thanks to Artemi Panarin, the Panthers held on to win Game #6.
The Florida Panthers are going back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row! #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/pvziTpO1lQ
– Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) June 2, 2024
For the Rangers, Igor Shesterkin once again kept his team in the game as best he could, but in the end, the better team prevailed and advances to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year running.
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Here’s the handshake between the two teams, as the very good friends, but enemies in this series, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky congratulated each other.
The ultimate sign of respect. π€ #StanleyCup #HockeyHandshakes pic.twitter.com/4pPxApV8qS
– NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2024
As for the Prince of Wales Trophy awarded to the Eastern Conference champion team, well, this time, compared to last season, the Panthers didn’t touch the trophy.
They aren’t superstitious, but they are a little stitious… π€·ββοΈ
After touching the Prince of Wales Trophy last season, the @FlaPanthers weren’t taking any chances this year. π #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/uaTrMMQxsT
– NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2024
Last year, they hit it and lost in the Stanley Cup Final in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Aleksander Barkov listened to his coach, Paul Maurice, this year.
Aleksander Barkov said Paul Maurice told him not to touch the Prince of Wales Trophy last year, but the Panthers’ captain did anyway.
This year he listened to his coach.
– Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) June 2, 2024
Let’s see if not touching the trophy will change anything this year for the Panthers.
Anyway, well done to the Panthers, who truly represent an entire hockey team, who clearly didn’t buy their way into the Stanley Cup Final, when it’s entirely deserved.
The Panthers win the series 4-2.
It now remains to be seen whether the Panthers will face the Edmonton Oilers or the Dallas Stars.
The final kicks off on Saturday June 8 at 8 p.m.
Overtime
– Here are yesterday’s results.
The @FlaPanthers became the sixth different franchise in the past 30 years to advance to the #StanleyCup Final in consecutive seasons, joining the Lightning, Penguins, Red Wings, Devils and Stars.#NHLStats: https://t.co/r80dfC9ha2 pic.twitter.com/RYNTSL13Aq
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 2, 2024
– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.
– On today’s program: the Oilers can join the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final with a home win over the Stars in Game #6.