History made on many fronts in Florida Panthers' back-to-back NHL success
The Florida Panthers, powered by Sam Reinhart's four-goal effort, captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup on Tuesday, defeating Edmonton 5-1 to win the NHL Final.
Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots while Matthew Tkachuk added a goal for the Panthers, who took the best-of-seven series 4-2.
After claiming their first crown last year, the Panthers become the first NHL club since Tampa Bay in 2020-21 to win back-to-back titles.
Florida beat Edmonton in seven games in last year's Stanley Cup final after squandering a 3-0 series lead, but this time dominated the final two games to hoist the trophy.
Not since Montreal beat Boston in 1977 and 1978 had a team defeated the same foe in the final two years in a row.
Reinhart became only the fourth player to score seven goals in an NHL Final after Jean Beliveau in 1956, Mike Bossy in 1982 and Wayne Gretzky in 1985.
The Oilers, seeking their sixth crown overall, have not won the Cup since 1990. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. Florida became only the eighth NHL team to clinch the Cup on home ice in back-to-back seasons, the first since the Oilers in 1987 and 1988.
Edmonton selected Stuart Skinner as the starting goaltender after using Calvin Pickard in a 5-2 game-five loss on Saturday.
Skinner had been yanked from game four after surrendering three goals in the first period before Edmonton rallied for a 5-4 overtime triumph.
Reinhart runs wild
Just 4:36 into the game, Reinhart stole the puck from Edmonton's Evan Bouchard at the blue line, evaded defender Mattias Ekholm and beat Skinner one-on-one to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
It was 29-year-old Canadian right wing Reinhart's league-leading 15th goal of the playoffs, coming a day after Reinhart was named to Canada's 2026 Winter Olympic team.
Tkachuk, named to the 2026 US Olympic squad, made it 2-0 for the Panthers just 47 seconds before the end of the first period, taking a pass from Finnish left wing Eetu Luostarinen and firing the puck past Skinner.
Reinhart made it 3-0 with 2:29 remaining in the second period when Skinner surrendered a rebound off a Carter Verhaeghe's shot and Florida's Aleksander Barkov fired a shot that Reinhart deflected into the net.
Bobrovsky made 10 saves in both the first and second periods to frustrate the Oilers.
Fans began chanting, 'We want the Cup' in the third period as the precious final minutes ran out on Edmonton.
The Oilers pulled Skinner in favour of an extra attacker in desperation and Reinhart made them pay, netting his third goal into an empty net with 6:34 remaining and his fourth also into an unprotected net with 5:05 remaining.
Vasily Podkolzin scored for Edmonton with 4:42 remaining to avert a shutout.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Messi strikes as Inter Miami stun Porto at Club World Cup
A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in the Club World Cup on Thursday. The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A. Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Al Ahly 2-0 earlier on -- the Egyptians like Porto have one point. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave the Portuguese side the lead as they had the better of the first half and could have scored more. However Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp, in a match many thought would be straightforward for Porto. Co-owned by former England international David Beckham, Inter Miami played their first MLS match in 2020 and signed Messi in 2023, raising their profile significantly. This was the first competitive victory for an MLS side over European opposition, in their second encounter after Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC earlier in the week. "It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well," Messi told DAZN. "It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it... "You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team... we knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths." Even with Messi, arguably the face of the tournament, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under half-full at kick-off, hamstrung by another 3:00 pm kick-off on a working day as it was for Chelsea's opener at the venue. More fans entered throughout the game, keen to get a glimpse of the 37-year-old widely considered to be the game's greatest ever player, with nearly 32,000 present in the end. Messi did not disappoint and was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off. The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box. Spain international Samu Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him. Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge forward from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart near post stop to thwart him. Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive. Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned the screw before the break. - 'Clutch moment' - Inter Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Marcelo Weigandt's inviting cut-back to stun the Portuguese side. Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes. The playmaker was brought down outside the area and dusted himself down before arrowing a classic Messi free-kick into the top right corner. "(Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world," Inter Miami forward Fafa Picault told DAZN. "I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us." Miami battled hard to keep Porto at bay and groans travelled around the stadium after seven minutes of stoppage time was announced. Mascherano's players thew themselves in the way of shots in a way the former Argentine defensive midfielder would have done himself, and Inter Miami were eventually able to claim their much-craved victory.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
History made on many fronts in Florida Panthers' back-to-back NHL success
The Florida Panthers, powered by Sam Reinhart's four-goal effort, captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup on Tuesday, defeating Edmonton 5-1 to win the NHL Final. Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots while Matthew Tkachuk added a goal for the Panthers, who took the best-of-seven series 4-2. After claiming their first crown last year, the Panthers become the first NHL club since Tampa Bay in 2020-21 to win back-to-back titles. Florida beat Edmonton in seven games in last year's Stanley Cup final after squandering a 3-0 series lead, but this time dominated the final two games to hoist the trophy. Not since Montreal beat Boston in 1977 and 1978 had a team defeated the same foe in the final two years in a row. Reinhart became only the fourth player to score seven goals in an NHL Final after Jean Beliveau in 1956, Mike Bossy in 1982 and Wayne Gretzky in 1985. The Oilers, seeking their sixth crown overall, have not won the Cup since 1990. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. Florida became only the eighth NHL team to clinch the Cup on home ice in back-to-back seasons, the first since the Oilers in 1987 and 1988. Edmonton selected Stuart Skinner as the starting goaltender after using Calvin Pickard in a 5-2 game-five loss on Saturday. Skinner had been yanked from game four after surrendering three goals in the first period before Edmonton rallied for a 5-4 overtime triumph. Reinhart runs wild Just 4:36 into the game, Reinhart stole the puck from Edmonton's Evan Bouchard at the blue line, evaded defender Mattias Ekholm and beat Skinner one-on-one to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. It was 29-year-old Canadian right wing Reinhart's league-leading 15th goal of the playoffs, coming a day after Reinhart was named to Canada's 2026 Winter Olympic team. Tkachuk, named to the 2026 US Olympic squad, made it 2-0 for the Panthers just 47 seconds before the end of the first period, taking a pass from Finnish left wing Eetu Luostarinen and firing the puck past Skinner. Reinhart made it 3-0 with 2:29 remaining in the second period when Skinner surrendered a rebound off a Carter Verhaeghe's shot and Florida's Aleksander Barkov fired a shot that Reinhart deflected into the net. Bobrovsky made 10 saves in both the first and second periods to frustrate the Oilers. Fans began chanting, 'We want the Cup' in the third period as the precious final minutes ran out on Edmonton. The Oilers pulled Skinner in favour of an extra attacker in desperation and Reinhart made them pay, netting his third goal into an empty net with 6:34 remaining and his fourth also into an unprotected net with 5:05 remaining. Vasily Podkolzin scored for Edmonton with 4:42 remaining to avert a shutout.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Panthers rout Oilers to capture second NHL Stanley Cup in a row
The Florida Panthers, powered by Sam Reinhart's four-goal effort, captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup on Tuesday, defeating Edmonton 5-1 to win the NHL Final. Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots while Matthew Tkachuk added a goal for the Panthers, who took the best-of-seven series 4-2. "It's incredible," Florida's Brad Marchand said. "It's a feeling you can't really describe... words can't put this into reality how great it feels. Such an incredible group." After claiming their first crown last year, the Panthers become the first NHL club since Tampa Bay in 2020-21 to win back-to-back titles. Florida beat Edmonton in seven games in last year's Stanley Cup final after squandering a 3-0 series lead, but this time dominated the last two games to hoist the trophy again. "It's an amazing feeling," Bobrovsky said. "They are amazing, the group. I'm so privleged to be their goalie. It's a dream come true and to win that trophy twice, it's amazing." Not since Montreal beat Boston in 1977 and 1978 had a team defeated the same foe in the final two years in a row. The Panthers, who also lost to Vegas in the 2023 final, obtained Tkachuk in a 2022 trade with Calgary and haven't missed the final since. "We're a dynasty," Tkachuk said. "And I can't believe this is what has happened... It just shows how unbelievable the group is, the depth." Reinhart became only the fourth player to score seven goals in an NHL Final after Jean Beliveau in 1956, Mike Bossy in 1982 and Wayne Gretzky in 1985. "It's not easy coming back again," Reinhart said. "You know how hard it is to do. Sometimes that benefits you and sometimes it doesn't. "We just stuck with it. A lot has to go your way to be standing here at the end. We were up to task again." Florida players took turns skating a lap on the ice after the game with the trophy lifted above their heads. Florida center Sam Bennett, who scored five goals in the final, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. "It's incredible," Bennett said. "This was harder than last time. We put in so much work. There are 25 MVPs in this group. It's the best feeling in the world." The Oilers, seeking their sixth crown overall, have not won the Cup since 1990. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993. Marchand, obtained in a trade from Boston where he won a Cup in 2011, scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final. "We just had that fire," Marchand said. "We knew we had something special." Florida became only the eighth NHL team to clinch the Cup on home ice in back-to-back seasons, the first since the Oilers in 1987 and 1988. - Reinhart runs wild - Just 4:36 into the game, Reinhart stole the puck from Edmonton's Evan Bouchard at the blue line, evaded defender Mattias Ekholm and beat Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner one-on-one to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. It was the 29-year-old Canadian right wing's league-leading 15th goal of the playoffs, coming a day after Reinhart was named to Canada's 2026 Winter Olympic team. Tkachuk, named to the 2026 US Olympic squad, made it 2-0 for the Panthers just 47 seconds before the end of the first period. Reinhart made it 3-0 with 2:29 remaining in the second period, deflecting in an Aleksander Barkov shot. The Oilers pulled Skinner in favor of an extra attacker in desperation and Reinhart made them pay by scoring two goals into the empty net. Vasily Podkolzin scored for Edmonton with 4:42 remaining to avert a shutout.
