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CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Key factors in Oilers' 2025 Stanley Cup Final demise
The Florida Panthers have defeated the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in Game 6, to win their second straight Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers have defeated the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in Game 6, to win their second straight Stanley Cup. It was a playoff run for the ages. The Edmonton Oilers came up short, of course, losing in six games to the Florida Panthers in a Stanley Cup Final rematch, but the Blue-and-Orange's journey to the championship series was marked by characteristics that played major factors in the progression not just of their 2024-25 National Hockey League campaign but from previous seasons as well. Here's a look at those key elements of the Oilers' recently completed playoff run. Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) looks to pass the puck as Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) defends during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Panthers defence/forecheck They saw it coming, and the Oilers knew from experience what they were getting into with a Stanley Cup rematch from last year: the Panthers' forecheck and defensive play. It was even better this year and was evident from the start of the Cup Final. And the aggressive, relentless team-wide pressure influences the next two key factors of this series, but I'll get into that soon enough. While the Oilers at times found ways around the constant in-your-face style employed by Florida, resulting in little time and space for any Oiler – from the fourth line up to the magic-weaving likes of McDavid and Draisaitl – to generate offence. 'Their forecheck was great, they tilted the rink,' McDavid said after Game 6. 'They were able to stay on top of us all over the place and we were never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. We kept trying the same thing over and over again, banging our heads against the wall. Oilers-Panthers Game 6 heat map A heat map showing from what areas of the ice the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers took their shots in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final played June 17, 2025. (Natural Stat Trick) While in the deciding game the Oilers played like a team that knew it needed to find a way to break through and looked like they tried their darnedest to get to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, they simply couldn't. It was in Game 5 back at Rogers Place on Saturday that their inability was even more evident, the quality of scoring chances and shots essentially being pushed to the perimeter. Basically, the Oilers were unable to penetrate the bastion protected by the relentless Panthers defence. Bobrovsky, while excellent when he needed to be, deftly batted aside the softballs the Oilers helplessly tossed his way over the rampart. 'We didn't get to their goaltender enough, either in Game 5 or Game 6,' Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm said Tuesday after going down in defeat. 'We weren't able to generate a goal in the first 40 minutes of either game. Give them credit, they're a good team.' Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Leon Draisaitl (29) talk on the bench during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Limit McDavid, Draisaitl Like McDavid said in the previous section, the Panthers smothered the Oilers' attack, which of course is spearheaded most games by him and Draisaitl. It's not to say the Oilers' two stars didn't score or get chances in the Stanley Cup Final. McDavid netted a goal and six assists for seven points in the six-game final, Draisaitl eight on four goals, two of them in overtime, and four assists. But each were kept off the scoresheet in two of the games against Florida, both pivotal: the overtime Oilers loss in Game 2 and Tuesday's series finale. If the Oilers score in OT instead in the second game, the Cup Final is certainly a different series. And the dynamic duo getting shut down completely in an elimination game, that's saying something about the Panthers for sure. They're deserving champions. 'We battled, but we're not leaving here as winners,' Draisaitl said Tuesday night after the loss. 'They were better. Just deeper.' Panthers vs. Oilers Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) scores on Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Evan Bouchard (2) defends during the first period in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Turnovers You know the saying: Live by the sword, die by the sword. That's life with Evan Bouchard as your No. 1 defenceman. Bouchard ended the 2025 NHL playoffs as the league's top-scoring blueliner with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 22 games played, good for sixth among all 'D' men, well ahead of the Dallas Stars' Thomas Harley (14 points in 18 games) and the Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (13 points in 19 games). Bouchard also led the NHL playoffs as the player with the most giveaways in the post-season with 36, followed by Harley with 29, and Oilers' teammate Leon Draisaitl and the Panthers' Seth Jones each with 28. He placed fifth among all NHL players on that list for the regular season with 111 in 81 games, to his credit behind the likes of the Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson (125) and the Calgary Flames' Mackenzie Weegar (140), the league's two worst offenders. Yes, Bouchard is on the ice a lot as he skates on the Oilers' top defensive pairing and is on the first-unit power play. He led the team in average ice time per game in both the playoffs (26:12) and regular season (23:28). But turnovers, especially when they're on the biggest of the NHL's stages, are magnified when they lead to goals. Look no further than Tuesday night's giveaway at the blueline following a soft pass from Mattias Ekholm that Bouchard bobbled at his own blueline, leading to Panthers forward Sam Reinhart's first of four goals of Game 6. Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart (second left) celebrates his goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) with teammates during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Come-from-behind wins You can't blame Oilers fans for expecting more of what they'd come to expect in any given game involving their heroes this season, either during the 82-game grind or during the post-season: roaring back from behind to win games, 19 of them during the regular season and eight in the playoffs. Punctuating those stats is the Oilers' record five straight games this spring coming from behind to win games, all four of their victories over the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and in Game 1 of the next series vs. the Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton even managed to pull the trick against the Panthers in Game 1. But that was it. The jig was up. Still, heading into Game 6, the Oilers were confident they could somehow get a leg up and elevate their game to the next level. And while they didn't address the idea of coming-from-behind yet again to win games, that assurance came through as the team prepared for Tuesday's do-or-die match. 'What we've found with this team going back to last year is when our backs are against the wall, they play their best (and) they bring their best,' head coach Kris Knoblauch said Tuesday before the game. 'We haven't had our backs against the wall much this year, but last year, we certainly saw it where guys were almost just going through the motions until it's on the line.' Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) attempts a shot on goal as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) defend during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup final Monday, June 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Depth scoring The range of scorers the Oilers enjoyed throughout the 2025 playoffs – from the team-leading 11 goals by Draisaitl through 10 from Corey Perry to contributions on lower lines such as Evander Kane's six, Connor Brown's five, Adam Henrique's four and three from both Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin, who were often matched with three-goal-scoring centre Mattias Janmark on the fourth forward line – helped lift them into a second straight Cup Final berth. Because while McDavid and Draisaitl ended up as the leading scorers in this year's NHL playoffs with 33 points each, it was scoring from those not skating on the Oilers' top two forward lines or on the first-unit power play that made the difference in games more so than in previous seasons. That all ended against the Panthers, outside Podkolzin recording two of his three goals in the final. Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson On Florida's side of the ledger, however, depth scoring made all the difference. While the top forward line of captain Aleksander Barkov centring wingers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaege were primarily tasked with shutting down Oilers units led by McDavid and Draisaitl (put aside the fact that Reinhart scored a team-leading seven goals against Edmonton for a moment), others further down the Panthers food chain stepped up offensively in big ways, of course. Yes, second-liners Sam Bennett scored five goals against the Oilers and Matthew Tkachuk three, but then there was Brad Marchand, who notched six in a third-line role alongside centre Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, who each scored a goal and five assists in the six-game final. 'They have great players,' McDavid said after Game 6. 'How many guys had 20-plus points in the post-season? They're as deep as it comes.' The answer to McDavid's question is six, with Marchand recording 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists. And coming up right behind their linemate was Luostarinen with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and Lundell with 18 (six goals, 12 assists).
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
6 key factors in Oilers' 2025 NHL playoff run to Stanley Cup Final
The Florida Panthers have defeated the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in Game 6, to win their second straight Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers have defeated the Edmonton Oilers again, this time in Game 6, to win their second straight Stanley Cup. It was a playoff run for the ages. The Edmonton Oilers came up short, of course, losing in six games to the Florida Panthers in a Stanley Cup Final rematch, but the Blue-and-Orange's journey to the championship series was marked by characteristics that played major factors in the progression not just of their 2024-25 National Hockey League campaign but from previous seasons as well. Here's a look at those key elements of the Oilers' recently completed playoff run. Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) looks to pass the puck as Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) defends during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Panthers defence/forecheck They saw it coming, and the Oilers knew from experience what they were getting into with a Stanley Cup rematch from last year: the Panthers' forecheck and defensive play. It was even better this year and was evident from the start of the Cup Final. And the aggressive, relentless team-wide pressure influences the next two key factors of this series, but I'll get into that soon enough. While the Oilers at times found ways around the constant in-your-face style employed by Florida, resulting in little time and space for any Oiler – from the fourth line up to the magic-weaving likes of McDavid and Draisaitl – to generate offence. 'Their forecheck was great, they tilted the rink,' McDavid said after Game 6. 'They were able to stay on top of us all over the place and we were never really able to generate any momentum up the ice. We kept trying the same thing over and over again, banging our heads against the wall. Oilers-Panthers Game 6 heat map A heat map showing from what areas of the ice the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers took their shots in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final played June 17, 2025. (Natural Stat Trick) While in the deciding game the Oilers played like a team that knew it needed to find a way to break through and looked like they tried their darnedest to get to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, they simply couldn't. It was in Game 5 back at Rogers Place on Saturday that their inability was even more evident, the quality of scoring chances and shots essentially being pushed to the perimeter. Basically, the Oilers were unable to penetrate the bastion protected by the relentless Panthers defence. Bobrovsky, while excellent when he needed to be, deftly batted aside the softballs the Oilers helplessly tossed his way over the rampart. 'We didn't get to their goaltender enough, either in Game 5 or Game 6,' Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm said Tuesday after going down in defeat. 'We weren't able to generate a goal in the first 40 minutes of either game. Give them credit, they're a good team.' Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) and Leon Draisaitl (29) talk on the bench during the third period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Limit McDavid, Draisaitl Like McDavid said in the previous section, the Panthers smothered the Oilers' attack, which of course is spearheaded most games by him and Draisaitl. It's not to say the Oilers' two stars didn't score or get chances in the Stanley Cup Final. McDavid netted a goal and six assists for seven points in the six-game final, Draisaitl eight on four goals, two of them in overtime, and four assists. But each were kept off the scoresheet in two of the games against Florida, both pivotal: the overtime Oilers loss in Game 2 and Tuesday's series finale. If the Oilers score in OT instead in the second game, the Cup Final is certainly a different series. And the dynamic duo getting shut down completely in an elimination game, that's saying something about the Panthers for sure. They're deserving champions. 'We battled, but we're not leaving here as winners,' Draisaitl said Tuesday night after the loss. 'They were better. Just deeper.' Panthers vs. Oilers Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe (23) scores on Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Evan Bouchard (2) defends during the first period in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Turnovers You know the saying: Live by the sword, die by the sword. That's life with Evan Bouchard as your No. 1 defenceman. Bouchard ended the 2025 NHL playoffs as the league's top-scoring blueliner with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 22 games played, good for sixth among all 'D' men, well ahead of the Dallas Stars' Thomas Harley (14 points in 18 games) and the Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (13 points in 19 games). Bouchard also led the NHL playoffs as the player with the most giveaways in the post-season with 36, followed by Harley with 29, and Oilers' teammate Leon Draisaitl and the Panthers' Seth Jones each with 28. He placed fifth among all NHL players on that list for the regular season with 111 in 81 games, to his credit behind the likes of the Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson (125) and the Calgary Flames' Mackenzie Weegar (140), the league's two worst offenders. Yes, Bouchard is on the ice a lot as he skates on the Oilers' top defensive pairing and is on the first-unit power play. He led the team in average ice time per game in both the playoffs (26:12) and regular season (23:28). But turnovers, especially when they're on the biggest of the NHL's stages, are magnified when they lead to goals. Look no further than Tuesday night's giveaway at the blueline following a soft pass from Mattias Ekholm that Bouchard bobbled at his own blueline, leading to Panthers forward Sam Reinhart's first of four goals of Game 6. Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 Florida Panthers' Sam Reinhart (second left) celebrates his goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) with teammates during the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final in Sunrise, Fla., on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Come-from-behind wins You can't blame Oilers fans for expecting more of what they'd come to expect in any given game involving their heroes this season, either during the 82-game grind or during the post-season: roaring back from behind to win games, 19 of them during the regular season and eight in the playoffs. Punctuating those stats is the Oilers' record five straight games this spring coming from behind to win games, all four of their victories over the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and in Game 1 of the next series vs. the Vegas Golden Knights. Edmonton even managed to pull the trick against the Panthers in Game 1. But that was it. The jig was up. Still, heading into Game 6, the Oilers were confident they could somehow get a leg up and elevate their game to the next level. And while they didn't address the idea of coming-from-behind yet again to win games, that assurance came through as the team prepared for Tuesday's do-or-die match. 'What we've found with this team going back to last year is when our backs are against the wall, they play their best (and) they bring their best,' head coach Kris Knoblauch said Tuesday before the game. 'We haven't had our backs against the wall much this year, but last year, we certainly saw it where guys were almost just going through the motions until it's on the line.' Stanley Cup Oilers Panthers Hockey Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) attempts a shot on goal as Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) defend during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup final Monday, June 9, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Depth scoring The range of scorers the Oilers enjoyed throughout the 2025 playoffs – from the team-leading 11 goals by Draisaitl through 10 from Corey Perry to contributions on lower lines such as Evander Kane's six, Connor Brown's five, Adam Henrique's four and three from both Kasperi Kapanen and Vasily Podkolzin, who were often matched with three-goal-scoring centre Mattias Janmark on the fourth forward line – helped lift them into a second straight Cup Final berth. Because while McDavid and Draisaitl ended up as the leading scorers in this year's NHL playoffs with 33 points each, it was scoring from those not skating on the Oilers' top two forward lines or on the first-unit power play that made the difference in games more so than in previous seasons. That all ended against the Panthers, outside Podkolzin recording two of his three goals in the final. Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in Edmonton, Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson On Florida's side of the ledger, however, depth scoring made all the difference. While the top forward line of captain Aleksander Barkov centring wingers Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaege were primarily tasked with shutting down Oilers units led by McDavid and Draisaitl (put aside the fact that Reinhart scored a team-leading seven goals against Edmonton for a moment), others further down the Panthers food chain stepped up offensively in big ways, of course. Yes, second-liners Sam Bennett scored five goals against the Oilers and Matthew Tkachuk three, but then there was Brad Marchand, who notched six in a third-line role alongside centre Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, who each scored a goal and five assists in the six-game final. 'They have great players,' McDavid said after Game 6. 'How many guys had 20-plus points in the post-season? They're as deep as it comes.' The answer to McDavid's question is six, with Marchand recording 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists. And coming up right behind their linemate was Luostarinen with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and Lundell with 18 (six goals, 12 assists).
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
How can GM Brad Treliving make Maple Leafs' DNA change happen?
Article content It's not just at the top where a change in the Leafs' approach has to happen. The Panthers depth players, specifically the third line of Anton Lundell between Eetu Luostarinen and Marchand, were tone-setters in the march to a second Cup win in as many years. The Leafs don't have much comparable in their bottom six, not that many teams in the NHL do. What players such as Max Domi, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann bring is OK, but they're a notch below what Panthers coach Paul Maurice had at his disposal. And, if you're going to follow the Panthers model, there's going to have to be change in how the Leafs work on the forecheck, isn't there? The Panthers' diligence and tenacity was crucial throughout the playoffs. It's not that the Leafs don't have a good forechecking system — under Berube, they do — but finding ways to make it more impactful have to be among the off-season goals. The clock started ticking on the Leafs and their off-season goals late on the night of May 18, when the Panthers squashed them in Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena. Adding some of the Panthers' DNA, or something similar, would add up to a good summer of work Treliving. A stiff test awaits. We'll have a firm idea in a few weeks whether Treliving was able to attain a good grade.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Panthers announce Stanley Cup celebration parade details. What you need to know
Parade details for the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup championship parade are out. And it will look very similar to last year's celebration — just hopefully without all the rain. The Panthers' 2025 Championship Celebration will take place on Sunday, starting at noon. The parade route along A1A will start at Riomar Street and end just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park across from Hotel Maren at Southeast Fifth Street. That's where the formal on-stage rally on stage will take place. This is the exact route the team used for last year's parade when it won its first Stanley Cup. That celebration was delayed briefly by a massive downpour, but the crowd remained in full force at the beach. During last year's celebration, players poured beer out of the Stanley Cup at fans on the street as the team made its way down the route on buses. Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell drank out of shoes. Dmitry Kulikov caught a fans phone and took a selfie. Matthew Tkachuk made an impromptu stop at the Elbo Room — because of course he did — as the parade caravan got toward the end of its route. Ryan Lomberg, now with the Calgary Flames, crowd surfed. Every notable person in the franchise — from the star players in Barkov, Tkachuk, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to team owner Vincent Viola, coach Paul Maurice, president and CEO Matt Caldwell and president of hockey operations Bill Zito — spoke. And fans enjoyed the jubilation of a championship. Now, they get to do it again this weekend. The forecast for Sunday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale: A high of 88 degrees with a 35% chance of afternoon thunderstorms and winds up to 12 mph. Information on parking and additional details will be released in the coming days at and on the Panthers' official social channels — @FlaPanthers on both X and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand plays key role in second championship run
Florida Panthers centerBrad Marchand (63) celebrates with teammates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Brad Marchand (63) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) chases Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the first period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers centerBrad Marchand (63) celebrates with teammates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Anton Lundell (15) and Brad Marchand (63) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. ( Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) chases Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the first period in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brad Marchand sure made himself at home in Florida. Now he's a two-time Stanley Cup champion. Getting Marchand at the trade deadline from Boston for what ended up being a single first-round pick turned out to be a genius move by Florida as he scored six often timely goals against Edmonton in the final while providing vocal and physical leadership every shift. It culminating with a victory in Game 6 on Tuesday night that left him grinning on the ice with his fellow Panthers. Advertisement The 37-year-old winger had wondered if he'd be returning to his roots as a fourth-liner but instead had a major impact on the third line alongside young Finns Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen. 'These days go by very fast, so you got to appreciate them. It feels pretty special right now," he said during the celebration. "It's been a long time. A lot of ups and downs, and considering where we are right now and where the team started, I couldn't imagine a better feeling than this.' Marchand hoisted the Cup again 14 years after winning it with the Bruins in 2011 against Vancouver. Among his signature moments, the Nova Scotia native scored two highlight-reel goals in Game 5 at Edmonton to put the Panthers ahead in a heavyweight final. 'H's been amazing for us all playoffs,' teammate Matthew Tkachuk said. ' He seems to keep finding other gear. The more important the game, the better he is.' Advertisement Marchand said he felt at home with his new team . 'We just had that fire. We knew we had something special,' he said. 'It's such an incredible culture and everyone that's come in here, it's like we've been here a lot longer than a few months. It's a family. Guys love each other in this room. You buy into it immediately. Guys embrace you. It's incredible.' Getting Marchand was an 11th-hour move. Coach Paul Maurice was about to leave the team's practice facility a half-hour before the deadline when general manager Bill Zito came out of his office and said, 'What about Brad Marchand?' 'If he had asked that a year and a half ago, I would've thought he was joking,' Maurice said. 'But he's been able to find these players that we didn't think were possible and he's been able to get these deals done. When he fired that out, I think there was a bit of a pause, his face was serious, everybody nodded and that's it.' Advertisement Marchand for what turned out to be a first-round pick seems like a steal, even if he departs as a free agent this summer. He turned out to be an ideal fit and was a big reason the Panthers went back to back. 'He just happened to be the perfect style of player to take that line to a completely different level, and that's where our need was,' Maurice said. 'What Bill has always done here in my experience, he's identified the need and filled the hole.' On the ice, Marchand was a breath of fresh air and maybe the final piece of the puzzle. He also brought his trademark mouth to the equation, always chatting guys up and filling the void for noise when necessary. 'With Brad, the whole room knows, so there's no secrets of what he is as a player, as a competitor,' Zito said. 'Getting to know him a little bit more as a human, he's more special than I could have imagined on that front as a teammate and as a character human. From that standpoint, it was like frosting on the cake.' Will he be back? 'We'll see what happens here soon," Marchand said before heading off to celebrate. ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
