The Florida Panthers are the 2024 Stanley Cup champions after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday.
The Panthers won the best-of-seven game series 4-3 in what many have already considered one of the best Stanley Cup finals in NHL history. It was the franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup since it began playing in the NHL during the 1993-1994 season. The Panthers were runners-up in 2023 after losing to the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Florida’s journey to victory was not easy. The team won the first three games of the series and looked like it could sweep the Oilers. However, Edmonton stormed back and won the next three games, a couple in blowout fashion, to tie the series 3-3, setting Monday night up for the classic showdown that it turned out to be. The Panthers were in danger of being the first team since the 1942 Detroit Red Wings to blow a 3-0 lead in the NHL Stanley Cup finals.
“It’s not what I thought it would be,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “It’s so much better.”
Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was at the top of his game, stopping 23 shots from Edmonton’s dangerous offense. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe scored the Panthers’ two goals. Mattias Janmark scored the lone goal for the Oilers.
The Panthers celebrated the victory with several players skating around the rink, hoisting the Stanley Cup in front of the team’s home fans.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“It’s heavy,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said of the Stanley Cup trophy’s weight during his team’s victory celebration.
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid was announced as the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He is the sixth person in NHL history to win the award without his team winning the Stanley Cup. It is the first time it has happened since 2003.
