The Florida Panthers made history on Monday by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final, securing their first-ever championship and continuing Canada’s 31-year title drought in ice hockey.
Florida's goals came from Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, leading to a 4-3 series victory. The Oilers had fiercely battled back from a 3-0 deficit, pushing the series to a decisive game seven.
Edmonton aimed to be the first Canadian team since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 to win the National Hockey League's championship. Additionally, they were striving to become only the second team in NHL history to overturn a 3-0 series deficit to claim the Stanley Cup.
However, the Panthers, who were runners-up against Las Vegas in last year’s final, were determined not to repeat their loss. Energized by their home crowd at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, the Panthers took an early lead just 4 minutes and 27 seconds into the first period. Evan Rodrigues launched a powerful shot from the left wing, and Carter Verhaeghe was quick to tip it past Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
The Oilers quickly responded with a stunning equalizer. Cody Ceci delivered a long pass through Florida’s defense, allowing Mattias Janmark to glide towards the net and score with a calm finish against Florida’s Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Florida regained the lead in the second period amidst intense play. Defender Dmitry Kulikov made a critical save on the goal line, preventing a sure Oilers goal. This defensive effort was followed by Sam Reinhart’s long-range snap shot, which soared past Skinner to restore Florida’s advantage.
In the third period, Sam Bennett nearly extended Florida’s lead to 3-1, but a brilliant save by Skinner kept the Oilers in the game. As the match intensified, Edmonton put immense pressure on the Florida goal, but last-ditch defensive efforts by the Panthers held strong, ensuring their victory.
The Florida Panthers' triumph not only marks a significant milestone for the team but also ignites excitement among fans worldwide, showcasing the thrilling nature of ice hockey and the spirit of competition.
Reference(s):
Florida Panthers beat Edmonton Oilers 2-1 to win Stanley Cup Final
cgtn.com
