Apr 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) previous to a face off in the course of the second interval in recreation seven of the primary spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs in opposition to the Boston Bruins at TD Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Florida Panthers hope to make the Stanley Cup finals for simply the second time of their franchise’s historical past.
The Florida Panthers are one in every of twelve NHL groups which have by no means gained the Stanley Cup.
The Panthers have been round since 1993. Over the span of 30 years, the franchise has struggled to search out success within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They reached the finals as soon as in 1996 after which didn’t win one other playoff sequence till 2022. The Panthers missed the playoffs for an extended stretch of time from 2001 to 2011.
After failing to qualify for the playoffs from 2017 to 2019, the Panthers have made consecutive appearances within the playoffs since 2020. They gained their first spherical sequence in opposition to the Washington Capitals in 2022. Because the eighth seed, the Panthers have turned numerous heads with their 2023 playoff run.
Playoffs are unpredictable and all about getting sizzling on the proper second. As a wild card group, the Panthers took down the mighty 65-win Boston Bruins in a exceptional first spherical matchup. They had been down 3-1 within the sequence and won three straight games to eradicate the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
Within the Convention Semifinals, the Panthers clawed their well beyond the Toronto Maple Leafs. Standouts for Florida in the course of the playoffs are winger Matthew Tkachuk, captain Aleksander Barkov, and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Panthers are up 3-0 within the Japanese Convention Closing in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes. The primary two video games of the sequence went into extra time. Tkachuk scored the sport winner for the Panthers each instances, the primary one in quadruple overtime and the second two minutes into OT. In Sport 3, the Panthers shut out the Canes 1-0. The Canes have performed onerous, however the Panthers have simply regarded like the higher group. There’s much more hockey left to play, however the Panthers have handed all of the checks thus far within the playoffs. They’re inching nearer to the ultimate sequence that has evaded them since 1996.
If the Panthers eradicate the Canes, they’ll face both the Vegas Golden Knights or the Dallas Stars. The Golden Knights are presently up 2-0 of their sequence with the Stars. Just like the Panthers, the Knights haven’t gained a Stanley Cup earlier than, however their group was solely based in 2017. The Canes and the Stars have every gained the Cup as soon as.
The Florida Panthers have by no means gained the Stanley Cup. Might this be the yr?
Florida Panthers plow a path to the finals
