James Myers of OAN
Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 9:00 AM
The Florida Panthers came close to defeat in history to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
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Florida beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday night, avoiding a disastrous collapse despite leading the series 3-0.
Forward Sam Reinhart gave the Panthers the lead and scored the game-winner late in the second period after Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov made an incredible diving play to stop the puck placed in front of the Florida goal.
As a result, Reinhart carried the puck in the offensive zone and fired a beautiful wrist shot past goaltender Stuart Skinner, Reinhart’s first goal since Game 3 of the series.
Opposing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was able to save 23 of the 24 shots he received in Game 7. Bobrovsky struggled in Game 7, posting an average goals-against percentage of 4.00 from Games 4 through 6.
The best player in the league, Oilers star Connor McDavid, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 NHL Playoffs. McDavid scored an incredible 42 points (8 goals, 34 assists) throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which was the fourth-highest point total in a single playoff run.
McDavid became just the sixth player in history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as part of a losing team.
The scoring started for Florida early in the first period when, at 4:27, Panthers forward Evan Rodriguez took a shot at goal that fell just short, but teammate Carter Verhaeghe deflected the puck past Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner and Rodriguez found the net for the opener.
But just two minutes later, Edmonton struck back. Veteran defenceman Cody Ceci scored. streaking Mattias Janmark got behind the defense and made a pass to Janmark on the stick of the other side of the ice, who approached Bobrovsky alone and kicked the puck past Bobrovsky and into the back of the net.
The Oilers were looking to become just the second team in NHL history to overturn a 3-0 series deficit to win the Stanley Cup, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since 1942. The Toronto Maple Leafs remain the only team to have accomplished such a feat.
Meanwhile, the Panthers became just the third team in the last 40 years to win the Stanley Cup after losing in the previous playoff final.
They also defeated the Oilers in seven games to win the franchise’s first title in its 30-year history.
“It’s pretty cool,” said defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who is second to Barkov in career games played with the Panthers. “The first few years weren’t easy. There was a lot to learn and grow from. New GM, new coach … the turnover was tough, right? Now to be in this spot with the expectation of making the playoffs and having a shot at winning, it’s pretty cool. I’m just glad I got to experience it all with this franchise.”
The Oilers’ loss also extended a streak of no Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup – the 1993 Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to finish first in the NHL.
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