The Florida Panthers have fulfilled their promise. From the beginning of the season, the Panthers committed to achieving what they couldn’t finish the previous year. They declared at training camp that their 2023-24 season would not be complete without clinching the Stanley Cup. And they did just that. The Florida Panthers secured their first Stanley Cup in the franchise’s 30-year history with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena.
Panthers Retake the Lead
In a dramatic turn of events late in the second period, the Panthers reclaimed the lead. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov cleared the puck from the net, allowing the Panthers to transition swiftly. Sam Reinhart capitalized on this opportunity, scoring from the right circle with just 4:49 left in the second period, putting Florida ahead 2-1.
Crucial Panthers Penalty Kill
Early in the second period, with Matthew Tkachuk in the penalty box for tripping, the Panthers faced a critical penalty kill. Despite being trapped in their zone for most of the two minutes and Kevin Stenlund playing without a stick for over a minute, Florida’s defense held strong, preventing Edmonton from scoring.
Early Game Energy
The game began with intense energy from both teams. By the end of the first period, the score was tied 1-1. Florida had a slight edge in shots on goal, 7-6, and dominated in shot attempts with a 28-16 advantage. The Panthers also led in scoring chances (12-4) and high-danger chances (6-3), though they needed to convert more of these opportunities into goals as the game progressed.
Edmonton’s Quick Response
Edmonton responded quickly after Florida’s initial goal. Just over two minutes after the Panthers scored, Mattias Janmark equalized for the Oilers on a breakaway, assisted by Cody Ceci. This tied the game 1-1 with 13:16 remaining in the first period.
Panthers Strike First
Florida opened the scoring for the first time since Game 3. Carter Verhaeghe deflected a shot from Evan Rodrigues 4:27 into regulation, shortly after a Florida power play ended, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. This was Verhaeghe’s 11th goal of the season. Historically, teams that score first in Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final have a significant advantage, with a 12-7 record.
Pregame Atmosphere
As the teams took the ice for pregame warmups, the arena buzzed with excitement. Pockets of Oilers fans in the crowd chanted “Let’s Go, Oilers!” which was met with “Bob-by” chants from Panthers fans, in support of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky was expected to be a crucial player for Florida’s success in this decisive game.
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Stanley Cup Final Game 7 Series Recap
Game 1: Sergei Bobrovsky, a Vezina Trophy finalist, delivered an outstanding performance, stopping all 32 shots he faced in a 3-0 shutout victory. Goals from Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues, and Eetu Luostarinen provided the necessary support.
Game 2: The Panthers overcame an early deficit to beat the Oilers 4-1. Niko Mikkola tied the game in the second period, and Evan Rodrigues scored twice in the third, with Aaron Ekblad adding an empty-net goal. Bobrovsky stopped the last 18 shots he faced.
Game 3: Florida edged out Edmonton 4-3, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart each contributed a goal and an assist, while Vladimir Tarasenko and Sam Bennett also scored. Bobrovsky made 32 saves.
Game 4: The Oilers dominated with an 8-1 victory, keeping their hopes alive. Connor McDavid led with four points, and Dylan Holloway added two goals and an assist. Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Mattias Janmark also had multi-point games.
Game 5: Edmonton continued their comeback with a 5-3 win, narrowing the series to 3-2. McDavid’s four-point game was pivotal. Matthew Tkachuk and Evan Rodrigues each had a goal and an assist for Florida, but it wasn’t enough.
Game 6: Edmonton forced a Game 7 with a 5-1 victory. Warren Foegele, Adam Henrique, and Zach Hyman scored early, and two empty-net goals sealed the win. Aleksander Barkov’s third-period goal was the lone score for Florida.
