Emily Kaplan, ESPNJun 5, 2024, 07:55 AM ET
CloseEmily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter.
Forget the distance, this year’s Stanley Cup Final is as electric as they come. Two fantastic teams hitting their stride when it matters most, with incredible stories to tell.
Here’s a look inside how both teams got here and lessons on what makes them special.
When the Florida Panthers lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring, their emotional leader, Matthew Tkachuk, went around the locker room and repeated three words to his teammates: “We’ll be back.”
The road to the 2023 Final was both emotionally and physically taxing for the Panthers, who sneaked into the playoffs as the last seed and then shocked everybody — except for themselves. Our broadcast crew will never forget our pregame chat last year with coach Paul Maurice ahead of Game 5 of the first round in Boston, with the Cats trailing the series 3-1. “We’ll see you back here in Boston,” he said calmly, before walking away.
After being eliminated by the Golden Knights last spring, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl went all-in on winning the Cup in 2024. Jamie Douglas/Icon Sportswire
Florida’s list of players fighting through significant injuries last playoffs was as ugly as it gets. Tkachuk, who suffered a broken sternum in the Cup Final, needed his brother, Brady, to help him get out of bed after a pregame nap before Game 4. Teammates helped him put pads on and tied his skates.
Sam Bennett had two separate injuries; Radko Gudas played through a high ankle sprain. Top defenseman Aaron Ekblad played with a broken foot since the first round — plus two separate shoulder dislocations and a torn oblique. Ekblad and fellow defenseman Brandon Montour (torn labrum) missed the first month of the 2023-24 season recovering from offseason surgeries.
About two weeks after the season ended, a few players, including Carter Verhaeghe, rented ice in Florida. When GM Bill Zito returned from the NHL…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40276759/emily-kaplan-stanley-cup-buzz-florida-panthers-edmonton-oilers
Author : Emily Kaplan
Publish date : 2024-06-05 13:11:16
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