The Florida Panthers needed 30 years to win their first Stanley Cup championship.
Now the word “dynasty” can be tossed around them as they picked up their second consecutive title in their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
They beat the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row and did it in six games, compared with seven games last season, this time with a 5-1 victory on June 17.
Sam Reinhart, who scored the Cup-clinching goal in 2024, had four goals as Florida got to celebrate again on home ice.
Matthew Tkachuk, who rehabbed from a serious injury suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off to make it back for the playoffs, got this year’s Cup clincher and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves.
The Panthers’ rash of injuries meant they started every playoff series on the road, but they got through the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton’s loss extended Canada’s Stanley Cup drought to 32 seasons.
“This is harder than the last time,” Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, told TNT. “We just put in so much work. I’m just so proud of this group. There’s honestly 25 MVPs on this team. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Panthers were too banged up in the 2023 final and fell to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were healthier last season in taking a 3-0 series lead before finishing off the Oilers in Game 7. And they were deeper this season with their offseason signings and their trades for Brad Marchand and Seth Jones.
They were methodical, scoring first in the last five games and outscoring the Oilers 9-0 in the first period over the last four games.
They were opportunistic in Game 6. Reinhart got his first goal off a turnover and his second (Florida’s second) after goalie Stuart Skinner misplayed the puck. Reinhart added two empty-netters to become the first player since Wayne Gretzky (1985) to score seven goals in the final.
The Panthers have a busy offseason ahead because Sam Bennett (the Conn Smythe Trophy winner with 15 goals), Marchand (six goals in the final), Aaron Ekblad and others are among their pending unrestricted free agents. But for now, they’re the team to beat.
Showing how close the team is, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picks up the Stanley Cup and brings over to the rest of the team so they can touch it. Then he goes for a skate and starts a series of handoffs to first-time winners. Nate Schmidt, who was bought out by Winnipeg and signed as a free agent, was first. He hands it Seth Jones and it continues through the first-timers. Then it goes to first-time Panthers (and second-time winner) Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.
“These guys love each other. That’s the best I can come up,” coach Paul Maurice told TNT. “It’s the truth. The way they treat each other and care about each other, that’s their energy source and it’s the most powerful energy source.”
He scored a league-leading 15 goals during the playoffs to win the trophy for playoff MVP. Five of those were during the Stanley Cup Final. He set a record with 13 road goals. He joins Zach Hyman (16), Alex Ovechkin (15) and Sidney Crosby (15) as active players to score 15 playoff goals.
A dominant effort by the Panthers as they win four of their last five games to pick up their second consecutive Stanley Cup title.
He chops Matthew Tkachuk.
Vasily Podkolzin ends Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout bid, knocking in a rebound.
Sam Reinhart is on fire. He scores an empty-netter for his fourth goal of the game.
Edmonton has an extra skater.
The Oilers pull goalie Stuart Skinner for an extra skater and Reinhart completes the hat trick with an empty-netter. That’s the first postseason hat trick by the Panthers.. There’s 6:34 left in regulation.
Fans have been chanting, “We want the Cup.” Sergei Bobrovsky stops Jake Walman to keep it 3-0.
Panthers 20 minutes away from a Cup title.
The Panthers added to their lead in that period because goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was solid and Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner made a gaffe. With the Panthers cycling the puck in the Edmonton zone, Skinner looked out of position as a Carter Verhaeghe shot bounced of him. Seconds later, it was in the net. Sam Reinhart got his second goal of the game. He scored the Cup-clinching goal last season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl played about nine minutes each in that period. Edmonton led 10-9 in shots.
Panthers pin the Oilers in their zone and Stuart Skinner lets a long shot from Carter Verhaeghe bounce off him. Aleksander Barkov picks up the rebound and feeds Sam Reinhart for his second goal of the game. Bad play there by Skinner.
Oilers are pressing for their first goal, but Sergei Bobrovsky is equal. Shots are 8-6 Edmonton so far in the period.
Edmonton keeping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together. Coach Kris Knoblauch is switching up the third forward.
Connor McDavid works the puck to Corey Perry down low but it’s slightly out of his reach and his shot hits the side of the net.
2-0 Panthers. Getting the next goal seems critical for Edmonton.
This is a repeat of previous games. The Panthers survive an early Edmonton push then score a couple goals, this time by Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk. Reinhart has goals in his last four games and Tkachuk has three goals and three assists. Florida has outscored the Oilers 9-0 in the first period in the last four games. Shots are 10-9 Oilers
Eetu Luostrainen patiently holds onto the puck and feeds Matthew Tkachuk as he comes into the zone from the bench. He skates in and beats Stuart Skinner at 19:13.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch already puts his stars together.
Sam Bennett and Evander Kane go off, so it’s 4-on-4. As expected, the Oilers get the better chances, but it’s full strength now.
Turnover by Evan Bouchard leads to a Sam Reinhart goal at 4:36. Slick stickhandling by Reinhart to get around Mattias Ekholm, whose initial pass had handcuffed Bouchard. Panthers have scored first for five games in a row.
Edmonton needed a good start. It’s leading 4-0 in shots three minutes in.
Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl have big hits, knocking over Brad Marchand and Niko Mikkola, respectively.
Oilers’ Connor McDavid line vs. Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov line.
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off Tuesday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.
Streaming is available on Max and Sling TV.
The NHL roster report says the Oilers are starting the Connor McDavid line (Corey Perry is back on the line). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who missed the morning skate, is starting. The Panthers are countering with the Aleksander Barkov line with Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad on defense.
Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (15-7, 2.26 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) vs. Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (7-6, 2.99, .891)
The Panthers have 11 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk (22 each), followed by Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov (20 each). Bennett leads the playoffs with 15 goals.
The Oilers have the top three scorers in the series: Forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are tied with a league-best 33 points, followed by defenseman Evan Bouchard (23). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 20 points and Draisaitl has a team-best 11 goals.
If the Panthers clinch tonight, the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup will be presented. If the Oilers win, the teams and trophy will head to Edmonton, Alberta, for Game 7 on Friday, June 20. Here’s what to know about the Stanley Cup.
In addition to Stuart Skinner returning to the net, defenseman John Klingberg is back in the lineup after missing two games. Troy Stecher will come out. Forward Kasperi Kapanen will return after sitting out Game 5, with Viktor Arvidsson coming out.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is giving Stuart Skinner the start in Game 6 with the season on the line after having Calvin Pickard start the previous game.
“Stu’s been in a lot of high-pressure games. He’s played really well,” Knoblauch said. “You look at the amount of elimination games he’s played — I think there’s six last year — and every single game that he played in were really solid if not spectacular performances.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed the morning skate, but the Oilers are expecting that he will play.
Repeat Game 5 performance: The Panthers put on a defensive gem in Game 5, holding the high-flying Oilers to three shots in the first period and 21 shots overall. The Oilers didn’t score in the 5-2 Panthers win until the third period when they were down 3-0.
Get the early lead: They’ve outscored the Oilers 7-0 in the first period over the last three games. It didn’t help them in Game 4 as Edmonton staged a major rally. But it’s easier for the Panthers to play their style when they have the lead.
Take advantage of the last line change: The Panthers are best when rolling lines. But they should try to get center Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling out against Connor McDavid when possible, especially when the Oilers use McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together.
Remember last year: The Oilers, who fell behind 3-0 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, dug down and won three consecutive games before losing in Game 7. They only have to win two in a row this year for their first title since 1990. They have it in them.
Stay out of the penalty box: The Oilers were short-handed four times in the first period of Game 3 and three times in the first period of Game 4. They gave up a combined three power-play goals. They were more disciplined in Game 5.
Key an eye on Brad Marchand: The 37-year-old has been spectacular in the Panthers’ wins. He had two breakaway goals in Game 2, including in overtime. He scored 56 seconds into Game 3. He scored twice in Game 5, splitting the Oilers defense off a faceoff win at center ice for his first goal. He scored his second goal after a high-skilled move around defenseman Jake Walman.
The 12 countries in the 2026 Winter Classic named their first six players on June 16..
Five players are playing key roles in the Stanley Cup Final – Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (Canada) and Leon Draisaitl (Germany), plus Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (Finland), Matthew Tkachuk (USA) and Sam Reinhart (Canada).
McDavid scored the winning goal in overtime at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Panthers lead seies 3-2
All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)
All odds via BetMGM (as of Tuesday, June 17, 3 p.m. ET)
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