The Florida Panthers will face either the Dallas Stars or the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers secured their spot in the Cup Final for the second consecutive year by defeating the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Saturday. Earlier, they triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games during the first round and won a six-game series against the Boston Bruins to advance to the conference final.
As the top seed in the Atlantic Division with a 52-24-6 record, Florida would host Edmonton (49-27-6) but start on the road against Dallas (52-21-9), the Western Conference’s top seed. The Oilers lead their series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS).
Florida coach Paul Maurice noted similarities between the Rangers and their potential opponents, highlighting their speed and dynamic play. The Panthers have experienced diverse styles throughout their playoff journey, facing teams like the Bruins and Rangers.
The Panthers, who have yet to win a Stanley Cup, lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights last season and were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.
Matthew Tkachuk leads the Panthers in playoff points with 19 (five goals, 14 assists), while Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov each have 17 points. Sam Reinhart has 12 points. Sergei Bobrovsky has been the starting goalie throughout, with a 12-5 record, a 2.20 goals-against average, and a .908 save percentage. Backup Anthony Stolarz has not played in the playoffs.
Dallas won their first-round series against the Golden Knights in seven games and defeated the Avalanche in six games in the second round. They are aiming for their fourth Cup Final appearance since relocating from Minnesota in 1993-94, having last reached the final in 2020 and won the Cup in 1999.
Edmonton overcame the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the first round and the Vancouver Canucks in seven games in the second round. The Oilers last reached the Cup Final in 2006, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes, and have won the Cup five times, most recently in 1990.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov acknowledged the tough competition ahead, emphasizing the need to rest and prepare for the next challenge.
Florida was undefeated against Dallas this season, winning 5-4 at home and 4-3 on the road, with Barkov, Reinhart, and Evan Rodrigues contributing significantly. Bobrovsky posted a 3.50 GAA and .889 save percentage in these games.
Against Edmonton, the Panthers also won both matchups, 5-3 at home and 5-1 on the road. Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, and Kevin Stenlund led the scoring, while Bobrovsky had a 2.00 GAA and .941 save percentage. For Edmonton, Connor McDavid had three points in these games, with starting goalie Stuart Skinner absent and backup Calvin Pickard struggling.
Panthers forward Sam Bennett praised both Dallas and Edmonton, emphasizing the readiness of his team for the forthcoming challenge.
