Vladimir Tarasenko’s goal with 10:58 remaining in the third period proved to be the series winner as the Florida Panthers held on for a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 6 and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season.
Florida became the third team in NHL history to eliminate the Presidents’ Trophy winner in consecutive postseasons. That it was two Original-Six made it even a little sweeter.
The desperate Rangers started fast, registering five of the game’s first six shots, but after building some momentum during their only power-play opportunity the Panthers settled in and took the lead late in the first period.
After whacking a clear down in the neutral zone, Evan Rodrigues passed to Sam Bennett. The two worked another play after crossing the blue line that saw Rodrigues drop the puck to Bennett in the left circle and the bearded centerman tattoo the puck off the cross bar and over the goal line before Igor Shesterkin could react to it.
Shesterkin and Sergei Bobrovsky would not yield in the middle frame and we went to the third with Florida clinging to its one-goal lead.
The decisive breakthrough would occur thanks to the dogged work of the Cats’ third line.
After Anton Lundell blocked a shot in his own zone, he sent the puck into the Rangers end, where Eetu Luostainen chased it down and won it from K’Andre Miller. Luostarinin dropped to Lundell and he fed across the slot to Tarasenko, who slammed it home for his first point of the series. What a time to get it, Vladimir!
The Panthers kept the Rangers under wraps until Artemi Panarin ended Bobrovski’s shutout bid with 1:40 remaining in regulation with Shesterkin off for an extra attacker.
Aaron Ekblad’s attempt to clear off the broads wasn’t strong enough, allowing Adam Fox to hold it in by backhanding to Vincent Trocheck. Trocked crossed to the Bread Man, who ripped a shot over Bobrovsky’s left shoulder of his first goal of the series.
As in Game 6, the six-on-five goal was too little, too late for the Rangers. Florida killed off the final 100 ticks on the clock to capture the Prince of Wales Trophy for the third time in franchise history. They now wait the winner of the Edmonton-Dallas series. Game 1 of the Stanley Final will be Saturday night in Sunrise or Dallas.
We want the Cup!
Bulls & Bears
- Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 23 saves to earn the First Star nod. Overshadowed in the media by Igor Shesterkin, Bobrovsky gave up just five goals in Florida’s four wins and a total of 12 goals over the entirety of the series. You’ve done a man’s job, sir.
- In addition to notching the series-clinching goal, Vladimir Tarasenko was credited with three blocked shots and four hits. Tarasenko hadn’t lit the lamp since Game 3 of the Boston series.
- Sam Bennett’s goal was his fourth in the last three games. Bennett finished the series with four goals and six points. He was only held off the score sheet in Game 3.
- That Florida won back-to-back games with its first line getting shutout is a testament to the depth on this team and its ferocious defense. The Cats went a ridiculous 14-for-15 on the penalty kill against the Rangers.
- I’ll wrap with this: the Panthers have now won 25 postseason games under Paul Maurice. That’s the same number they won as franchise prior to his arrival on June 22, 2022.