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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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"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."
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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.
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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.
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"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@pbpost.com.
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
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