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Panthers' Aleksander Barkov played through nasty hand injury in Finals
Panthers' Aleksander Barkov played through nasty hand injury in Finals

Yahoo

time23-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Panthers' Aleksander Barkov played through nasty hand injury in Finals

The post Panthers' Aleksander Barkov played through nasty hand injury in Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Florida Panthers put the finishing touches on their second consecutive Stanley Cup victory, becoming the fourth team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Detroit Red Wings (1997, 1998), Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017), and Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 20201). Advertisement While the lack of points from team captain Aleksander Barkov may have concerned some fans, a perfectly valid explanation has since been offered by head coach Paul Maurice: Barkov was playing through a grotesque hand injury. In the aftermath of winning the Stanley Cup, Maurice gave details on the injury suffered by Barkov and explained that the stitches he had were twice torn out and that he needed to close the cut with glue. 'In Game 1, Sasha split the palm of his hand open,' Maurice said via Yahoo Sports. 'He had those sutures torn out twice 'til he just glued it together.' Barkov scored six goals with 16 assists during the postseason, but wasn't able to find the scoresheet in the opening three games of the Cup Final. Advertisement In the end, he got the last laugh along with his teammates. While the cut on his hand may have been extremely painful, he certainly didn't feel any discomfort raising the Stanley Cup over his head after receiving it from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for the second consecutive season. The Panthers had multiple injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Barkov was not the only notable Panthers player who was trudging through injuries. Matthew Tkachuk disclosed that he was playing not only through a sports hernia but a torn adductor muscle. Additionally, Sam Reinhart had just returned from a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Advertisement All of them played significant factors in Florida's second consecutive championship, which Tkachuk dedicated to the team medical and training staff. 'I wouldn't be here without the trainers and the doctors and those people, and that's what makes this Cup more special for me is how hard it was just to be out there and to get to the point of playing,' Tkachuk said. 'I owe — this Cup is because of them for me. I'm so lucky.' Professional athletes may receive the most recognition, but they deeply appreciate the extensive work their training staff does behind the scenes. Related: Conn Smythe voting reveals Sam Bennett's close win over Panthers teammate Related: Panthers' Sam Bennett takes dig at NHL Scouting Combine critics after winning Conn Smythe

Panthers' Paul Maurice makes eye-opening ‘best' claim after winning Stanley Cup
Panthers' Paul Maurice makes eye-opening ‘best' claim after winning Stanley Cup

Yahoo

time23-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Panthers' Paul Maurice makes eye-opening ‘best' claim after winning Stanley Cup

The post Panthers' Paul Maurice makes eye-opening 'best' claim after winning Stanley Cup appeared first on ClutchPoints. After a long season full of ups and downs, the Florida Panthers are at the top of the mountain once again. Like they did so many times in these playoffs, the Panthers took control at the end of the series and won the Stanley Cup with a dominant 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6. Advertisement This Panthers team will be remembered for playing its best hockey when it really needed to, and the Cup Final was a perfect example of that. This is a team with both star power and depth, and now it is etched in history as back-to-back champions. After the series ended, Paul Maurice took it a step further when describing this 2024-25 group with a bold claim, via WSVN 7 News. 'Well, this is a heck of a team. This is the best team I've ever coached from a talent point of view,' Maurice said. 'Is Anton Lundell our third-line center? Because I think he's plus-20 in the playoffs. He's a brilliant young player. If that's your third line, you're gonna win a lot of games. Advertisement 'We're just very, very deep for sure. It's wonderful.' The Panthers showed off that depth and talent throughout the playoffs. After cruising through the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, Florida dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road in both Games 5 and 7 to advance to the conference finals, where it made light work of the Carolina Hurricanes. Then, after the first four games of the Cup Final were very tightly contested and the series was tied at two, the Panthers tightened up again and showed the Oilers that they are in a different class. Maurice's club outscored Edmonton 10-3 over the last two games to get their hands on another Stanley Cup. The Panthers' depth is also exemplified by how many standout performers they had in the playoffs. Brad Marchand, Sergei Bobrovsky and eventual winner Sam Bennett all had convincing cases to win the Conn Smythe as the MVP of the playoffs, and that's even before getting to captain Aleksander Barkov, star forward Matthew Tkachuk or Sam Reinhart, who had four goals in Game 6. Advertisement The Panthers now have a difficult offseason ahead with some big-name free agents hitting the market. However, this team will go down in history as one of the best of this era after a dominant playoff run. Related: Brad Marchand's 8-word admission after Panthers' Stanley Cup victory will scare rest of the NHL Related: Panthers' Sam Bennett drops truth bomb on winning Conn Smythe Trophy

Florida Panthers players thank fans, teammates at Stanley Cup victory rally
Florida Panthers players thank fans, teammates at Stanley Cup victory rally

CBS News

time22-06-2025

  • Sport
  • CBS News

Florida Panthers players thank fans, teammates at Stanley Cup victory rally

The Florida Panthers were honored with a parade and victory rally on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale for their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. The parade on State Road A1A along Fort Lauderdale Beach started around noon. Players on buses waved to the crowds, numbered to be in the thousands. At points, players would hop their respective bus with Stanley Cup in hand and take it through the crowds lined along the street so they could get a first hand look at it, some even got to touch it. The players enjoyed themselves throughout the parade, chatting with fans and signing anything put in front of them. Just after 1:30 p.m., they assembled on a stage set up on the beach just north of 5th Street for a celebration rally. CBS Miami's Steve Goldstein was the master of ceremonies. Head coach Paul Maurice led off at the podium where he announced a proclamation from the team itself. "In Southeast Florida, 2025 is the summer of love. We know this, in the history of man, there is no chance that there have ever been this many Cat lovers in one spot," he said. He then opened his button-down shirt to his t-shirt with two cats on it, one representing each Stanley Cup win. He said his daughter made him do it. "In truth, so we leave here today together, the men behind me love you and all of you love the men behind me. So, we will ask this of you. The police officers and first responders, for all they do to keep us out of harm's way, this summer let's keep them out of harm's way. That will be our gist to all these people. All of you are a gift to us," he said. Panthers players express gratitude to fans The players who followed Maurice also expressed their sincere gratitude for the support shown from the fans and the organization. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov told the crowd that thanks to them the team was having amazing day and thanked them for their support during the course of the year. "This is amazing, what a day we are having with you guys, I want to say thank you to you," he said. Panthers right wing Sam Reinhart said the only thing he's heard all day was that this was the best parade that's ever happened in South Florida, and he has to agree. "Thank God I missed last year and not this year. I'm going to keep this real short and sweet, in honor of DJ Khaled, 'We da best' and I mean that," he said. Forward Matthew Tkachuk told the crowd that being at the parade was one of the best days in his life and the thanked everyone for making it fun and safe. He also thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager Bill Zito for bringing him on. "Everybody here, thank you guys so much for making this some of the most fun, and safe, these are memories I'm going to have for the rest of my life," he said. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad thanked the crowd for their support and the organization for believing in him. "All I have to say is 'Thank you. Thank you, fans, thank you my teammates, thank you Vinny, 11 (expletive) years you believed in me, Billy you believed in me," he said. When Center Sam Bennett, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, was introduced, the crowd started chanting "ten more years." "This is truly incredible. You know a lot of people, they don't like the way we play. They call us dirty, they call us nasty, they call us bullies. So, I would like to take this time to apologize to absolutely (expletive) no one. We're the double champs and we do what the (expletive) we want," he said. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd and said it's been a great year, a great playoff and great victory. Right wing Brad Marchand wrapped up the rally, telling the crowd he never imagined being part of something so special and he's so happy he doesn't have to play against the Panthers anymore.

'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade
'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade

The Independent

time22-06-2025

  • Sport
  • The Independent

'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade

Champagne was swilled and spilled, cigars were smoked and the Stanley Cup was hoisted a few more times, all with about 400,000 people watching. The Florida Panthers are getting pretty good at these parades. The back-to-back Stanley Cup winners had their championship parade and rally on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, the same setup as last year — except this time, bright sunshine greeted the champs as opposed to downpours and lightning a year ago. 'It's a little better day today than it was last year, but still, this is amazing,' Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. 'What a day we're having with you guys.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice declared this 'the summer of love' for fans of the team, doing so while wearing another shirt featured his beloved cats Poppy and Penny — a shirt made by his daughter. He wore a similar shirt to last year's parade, also made by his daughter. There were cries of 'Thank you, Boston!' when Brad Marchand — who came to Florida in a trade with the rival Bruins — was introduced. Marchand, a free agent, again indicated that he wants to be back with the Panthers, who won this season's Cup by topping the Edmonton Oilers in six games. 'I'm so happy that I don't have to play against these guys anymore,' Marchand said, pointing to his Florida teammates. Forward Matthew Tkachuk drew loud roars when he told the crowd that he 'would like to apologize to absolutely ... nobody because a double champ does whatever ... he wants," copying a line used by Conor McGregor when he became a double UFC champion. 'I could get used to this,' Tkachuk said as he looked out at the crowd — some of whom were in the water, with most others packed hundreds of yards deep down the sand. Tkachuk then thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito for trading for him three years ago, saying it changed his life. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, just as he did last year, took a shot at golfer Brooks Koepka, who famously went to a Panthers game once to heckle the veteran defenseman. Forward Sam Reinhart, who scored four goals in the clinching win over Edmonton, missed last year's parade because a close friend was getting married. He didn't miss Sunday. 'The only thing I've heard all day is how this is the best parade that's ever been had in South Florida," Reinhart said. 'Thank God I missed last year and not this year.' Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd, and said he hoped there was another parade next year. And Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, heard the crowd chanting their hopes of him getting a new contract with the Panthers. So, he ended his speech with the same request. 'Eight more years, please,' Bennett said. ___

'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade
'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade

Yahoo

time22-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

'This is amazing': Panthers celebrate 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup with another parade

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Champagne was swilled and spilled, cigars were smoked and the Stanley Cup was hoisted a few more times, all with about 400,000 people watching. The Florida Panthers are getting pretty good at these parades. Advertisement The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions had their championship parade and rally on Fort Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, the same setup as last year — except this time, bright sunshine greeted the champs as opposed to downpours and lightning a year ago. 'It's a little better day today than it was last year, but still, this is amazing,' Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. 'What a day we're having with you guys.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice declared this 'the summer of love' for fans of the team, doing so while wearing another shirt featured his beloved cats Poppy and Penny — a shirt made by his daughter. He wore a similar shirt to last year's parade, also made by his daughter. There were cries of 'Thank you, Boston' when Brad Marchand — who came to Florida in a trade with the rival Bruins — was introduced. Marchand, a free agent, again indicated that he wants to be back with the Panthers, who won this season's Cup by topping the Edmonton Oilers in six games. Advertisement 'I'm so happy that I don't have to play against these guys anymore,' Marchand said, pointing to his Florida teammates. Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk drew loud roars when he told the crowd that he 'would like to apologize to absolutely ... nobody because a double champ does whatever ... he wants," copying a line used by Conor McGregor when he became a double UFC champion. 'I could get used to this,' Tkachuk said as he looked out at the crowd — some of whom were in the water, with most others packed hundreds of yards deep down the sand. Tkachuk then thanked team owner Vincent Viola and general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito for trading for him three years ago, saying it changed his life. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad, just as he did last year, took a shot at golfer Brooks Koepka who famously went to a Panthers game once to heckle the veteran defenseman. Advertisement Forward Sam Reinhart, who scored four goals in the clinching win over Edmonton, missed last year's parade because a close friend was getting married. He didn't miss Sunday. 'The only thing I've heard all day is how this is the best parade that's ever been had in South Florida," Reinhart said. 'Thank God I missed last year and not this year.' Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky thanked the crowd, and said he hoped there was another parade next year. And Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, heard the crowd chanting their hopes of him getting a new contract with the Panthers. So, he ended his speech with the same request. 'Eight more years, please,' Bennett said. ___ AP NHL playoffs: and

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