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Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers no longer satisfied just to play in Stanley Cup Final
Silly superstitions. In one arena, the Florida Panthers stayed as far away from the trophy signifying their Eastern Conference championship – the Prince of Wales – shunning the shiny 2-foot-tall piece of sterling silver as it was brought onto the ice after their Game 5 win over Carolina. Advertisement In another venue, nearly 2,000 miles away in Dallas, the Edmonton Oilers surrounded their trophy – the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl – after eliminating the Stars in the Western Conference Final in five games, each player making sure his fingerprints were all over the prize. May 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates a goal during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images While both teams will acknowledge the job is not done as they prepare for a rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final starting June 4 in Edmonton, last year's result dictates this year's superstition. The Panthers, after touching the Prince of Wales Trophy two years ago and then being smoked by Las Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final, ignored it a year ago before winning their first title. Advertisement Aside from being a talented, connected, determined bunch, you can also describe this team has having long memories. Because even during the team photo after the Game 5 clincher, at least a 1-foot gap separated the trophy from the nearest players, including captain Aleksander Barkov. Florida Panthers' Bill Zito: GM who doesn't 'do anything' (but gets everything done) May 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers pose with the Prince of Wales Trophy as they advance to the finals after wining against the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The Oilers avoided the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl a year ago and that did not work out very well. Edmonton dug too deep a hole, falling behind Florida 3-0, before a furious rally fell one game short, losing Game 7 in Sunrise. "The bigger picture has changed … for our team," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the 5-3 win over the Hurricanes that closed out the conference final in five games. Advertisement "The first time, and you fight to get to the final, it's just such a big deal. And then when you do it a couple of times, you understand three-quarters of the way through (the playoffs), and there's lots more that has to happen." Like any franchise that tastes success the way the Panthers have the past three years, expectations are heightened. Matthew Tkachuk said just making the final two years ago "felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point." Rightfully so. The Panthers had won one playoff series the previous 27 years before losing that 2023 postseason that ended with losing the final round in five games. Florida Panthers headed to third straight Stanley Cup Final Then it happened. First, a Stanley Cup Final run that gives you that taste. Then, using that experience to complete the mission for the first time. And now, headed back for the third straight year. Advertisement "We didn't come here to win the Eastern Conference," Barkov said. The Panthers are acting, talking, playing like a group that will never be satisfied unless the ultimate is achieved. Florida not only has crossed that threshold of just being happy to be there, it has raised that bar so high that suggesting making the Stanley Cup Final should be cause for great celebration is an insult. "It's an odd feeling," said forward Brad Marchand, whose acquisition at the trade deadline, along with obtaining defenseman Seth Jones, should seal the GM of the Year Award for Florida's Bill Zito. "Excited to win the East, but our job isn't done." Advertisement What we have with the Panthers is a run bringing back memories of the Miami Heat's dominance from 2010-11 to 2013-14 that resulted in four trips to the NBA Finals and two titles. Dynasty? Not quite. A franchise needs to carry sustained success for more than three or four years and win more than one or two titles to join such an exclusive group of teams like the Canadiens, Yankees, Celtics and Patriots. But it has to start somewhere. And with the leadership of owner Vinnie Viola, and Zito, the Panthers at least now can initiate that conversation, just like it was a conversation 15 years ago when it came to the Heat with owner Micky Arison and Pat Riley. "They're the standard, obviously," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said about the Panthers after his team was eliminated. Advertisement The Panthers are the ninth franchise to play in three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, second in the past 40 years joining the 2020-22 Tampa Bay Lightning. Franchises not on that list include three of the league's Original Six – Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers. They are attempting to become the third team this century to win back-to-back titles: Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, '17) and Lightning (2020, '21). The beauty of this Stanley Cup Final is nobody is coming into it wide-eyed and overwhelmed. The moment should not be too big for either team. The fact that we have a rematch of a seven-game series evens out the experience and Wow! factor. Advertisement "It's not our first rodeo with this," Tkachuk said. "We are going to be very prepared." Expect the same from the Edmonton Oilers. Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@ Stanley Cup Final Game 1: Panthers at Oilers 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 4 TV: TRU, TNT This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Panthers seeking second Stanley Cup in third straight final
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hurricanes extend bonkers record after another playoff crash out
The post Hurricanes extend bonkers record after another playoff crash out appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Carolina Hurricanes' season came to an end on Wednesday night, as they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Florida Panthers, who won by a 5-3 final score in Game 5. Advertisement For the third consecutive season, the Panthers are the last team standing in the Eastern Conference and now hope to make it consecutive Stanley Cup victories, awaiting the winner of the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. But for the Hurricanes, it was another disappointing end to another strong regular season that also saw them cruise through the opening two rounds of the postseason against the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals. In doing so, they've made some unfortunate sports history. This season marks the seventh consecutive campaign that the Hurricanes have won at least a single round in the postseason but ultimately fell short of advancing to the championship round; no other team in the major four North American sports leagues has done that in more than five consecutive seasons. The teams to do so in five straight seasons include the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, and the NFL's Buffalo Bills. The Hurricanes failed to protect their 2-0 lead in Game 5 James Guillory-Imagn Images The Hurricanes avoided what would have been a fourth consecutive sweep of their team in the Eastern Conference Final when they managed to prolong their campaign with a 3-0 victory over the Panthers in Game 4 on Monday night in Florida. Advertisement Things went well for the Hurricanes in the opening 20 minutes of play on Wednesday, as they quickly took a 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of goals from Sebastian Aho. But the Panthers quickly stunned the Hurricanes in the second period with three goals in a span of just under five minutes of time from Matthew Tkachuk, Anton Lundell and Evan Rodrigues, taking a 3-2 lead. Carolina then knotted the score at 3-3 in the third period as Seth Jarvis capitalized on a Florida turnover, slipping the puck past goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. But once again, the Panthers had the answer as Carter Verhaeghe netted what proved to be the game-winner at the 12:21 mark. Sam Bennett then sealed the win by hitting the vacated net with goaltender Frederik Andersen on the bench for a sixth attacker. It'll now be another offseason full of question marks in Raleigh.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Head Coach Mike Sullivan Sends Heartfelt Message To Penguins' Fans
Nov 7, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan comes off the ice after a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images On Apr. 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with a head coach who had been leading the team for a decade. And although Mike Sullivan was subsequently hired by the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh will always hold a special place for him. Advertisement And he sent the Pittsburgh faithful a heartfelt message on Wednesday. On a billboard in the Pittsburgh area, Sullivan posted a message to Pittsburgh that read, "Thank you, Pittsburgh. Cup Family is forever." Sullivan was at the helm for Pittsburgh from 2015-2025 and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. He left Pittsburgh as the Penguins' all-time leader in wins. In 835 games with Pittsburgh - including the regular season and the playoffs - Sullivan was 453-293-89 (.543 win percentage). That puts him at 15th all-time for wins with a single franchise. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens: Last Chance Saloon
Nick Suzuki never has it easy against the Hurricanes. Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images This is it—the last chance saloon for the Montreal Canadiens. They have had three opportunities to secure a playoff berth so far and failed each time. On Tuesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets continued their splendid form, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation to keep their slim hope of making the Spring dance alive. On Wednesday night on the Bell Centre ice, the Habs must secure a single point against the Carolina Hurricanes to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Advertisement Canadiens: Lane Hutson Beats Chris Chelios' Record Three Takeaways As Demidov Took The Bell Center's Breath Away But The Hawks Took The Win Montreal Needs to Take it One Game At a Time Thankfully for Montreal, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind ' Amour has already confirmed that he won't be dressing all his regulars for the first game of a back-to-back, which will see them face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The Canes can't move up or down in the standings regardless of what happens in their last two matchups, and it makes sense for them to rest some players. Even though that means a more straightforward task on paper for the Canadiens, this team lost at home to the second-to-last team in the league. There is no such thing as an easy win right now. The Habs and Canes battled a little over two weeks ago, and the Carolina outfit won the game 4-1. Montreal did, however, come out on top 4-0 in the first game after the Four Nations Face-Off break. Still, the Canes have won nine of the last 10 games between the two sides, and this is probably the team against which Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield struggle the most. The Habs captain is minus-17 against them and has just four points in 14 games. Advertisement Samuel Montembeault was in the net for both duels so far this season, and he's likely to be once again, even if he has a 1-6-1 record against the visitors. He also has a 3.02 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. As for Jakub Dobes, he's never played them. No word yet on who will be manning the net for the visitors. Pyotr Kochetkov has taken on the Canadiens only once and came out on top; he pitched a perfect game, and nobody could score on him. As for Frederik Andersen, he is 15-5-2 against the hosts with a 2.29 GAA and a .924. In other words, whoever is in the net will pose a significant challenge for the Habs. Up front, the Canadiens' most productive player against the Canes is Patrik Laine, who has 22 points in 25 games. After a tough game against the Chicago Blackhawks, he will be looking to bounce back in a big way. Alternate captain Brendan Gallagher is second with 15 points in 30 games, while David Savard completes the top three with 11 points in 46 games. As for Carolina, Sebastian Aho leads the way with 24 points in 22 games, followed by Jordan Staal with 23 points in 54 games and Taylor Hall with 22 points in 26 matches. Advertisement It will be interesting to see how Martin St-Louis decides to deploy Ivan Demidov, especially considering his team has always struggled to score on the Canes. Every time the rookie was on the ice on Monday night, he impacted the game and created chances, something the coach should consider. Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.
