Sports

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Panthers win franchise’s first title

Published

11 months ago

June 25, 2024

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The Stanley Cup Final ended in a thrilling Game 7, with the Florida Panthers beating the Edmonton Oilers, 2-1.

The Panthers, who lost to Vegas in the Cup Final last season, won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.

More: Playoff schedule
Cup Final preview
Conn Smythe Watch
Burning questions
Wyshynski’s bracket
Cup contender comps

Stanley Cup Final

Path to Stanley Cup Final:

Panthers: defeated Lightning 4-1; defeated Bruins 4-2; defeated Rangers 4-2
Oilers: defeated Kings 4-1; defeated Canucks 4-3; defeated Stars 4-2

Leading scorers in playoffs:

Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk (22 points)
Oilers: Connor McDavid (42 points)

Schedule: (Panthers win 4-3)

Panthers avoid collapse to capture first Stanley Cup in Game 7 thriller

The Panthers fend off the Oilers in Game 7 with a 2-1 victory to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Path to conference finals:

Rangers: defeated Capitals 4-0; defeated Hurricanes 4-2
Panthers: defeated Lightning 4-1; defeated Bruins 4-2

Leading scorers in playoffs:

Rangers: Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck (14 points)
Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov (13 points)

Schedule: (Panthers win 4-2)

Keys to the offseason for the Rangers

Vladimir Tarasenko’s goal pads Panthers’ lead in the 3rd period

Vladimir Tarasenko sneaks the puck past Igor Shesterkin to pad the Panthers’ lead in the third period.

Western Conference

Path to conference finals:

Stars: defeated Golden Knights 4-3; defeated Avalanche 4-2
Oilers: defeated Kings 4-1; defeated Canucks 4-3

Leading scorers in playoffs:

Stars: Miro Heiskanen (13 points), Jason Robertson (12 points)
Oilers: Leon Draisaitl (24 points), Connor McDavid (21 points)

Schedule: (Oilers win 4-2)

Connor McDavid’s power-play goal opens the scoring in Game 6

Connor McDavid makes a brilliant move and backhands the puck into the net to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

Second round

Atlantic Division

Path to Round 2:

Panthers: defeated Lightning 4-1
Bruins: defeated Maple Leafs 4-3

Leading scorers in Round 1:

Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe (9 points)
Bruins: Brad Marchand (8 points)

Schedule: (FLA wins 4-2)

Keys to the offseason for the Bruins

Consensus pick: Panthers

Gustav Forsling scores late winner to secure series win over Bruins

The Panthers knock off the Bruins with a late goal from Gustav Forsling to reach the Eastern Conference finals.

Metropolitan Division

Path to Round 2:

Rangers: defeated Capitals 4-0
Hurricanes: defeated Islanders 4-1

Leading scorers in Round 1:

Rangers: Mika Zibanejad (7 points)
Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis (7 points)

Schedule: (NYR win 4-2)

Keys to the offseason for the Hurricanes

Consensus pick: Rangers

Chris Kreider completes natural hat trick to give the Rangers the lead

Chris Kreider tallies his third goal of the period to give the Rangers their first lead of the game.

Central Division

Path to Round 2:

Stars: defeated Golden Knights 4-3
Avalanche: defeated Jets 4-1

Leading scorers in Round 1:

Stars: Wyatt Johnston (7 points)
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar (9 points)

Schedule: (DAL wins 4-2)

Keys to the offseason for Avalanche

Consensus pick: Stars

Matt Duchene’s 2OT heroics send Stars to Western Conference finals

Matt Duchene roofs a game-winning 2OT goal to send Dallas to the Western Conference finals.

Pacific Division

Path to Round 2:

Canucks: defeated Predators 4-2
Oilers: defeated Kings 4-1

Leading scorers in Round 1:

Canucks: Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller (6 points)
Oilers: Connor McDavid (12 points)

Schedule: (EDM wins 4-3)

Keys to the offseason for Canucks

Consensus pick: Oilers

Evan Bouchard doubles Oilers’ lead

Evan Bouchard’s shot hits the post and goes in for the Oilers’ second goal of the game.

First round

Atlantic Division

Regular-season records:

Panthers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Lightning: 45-29-8, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Panthers: Sam Reinhart, 94 points (57 G, 37 A)
Lightning: Nikita Kucherov, 144 points (44 G, 100 A)

Consensus pick: Panthers

Schedule: (FLA wins 4-1)

Keys to the offseason for the Lightning

Aleksander Barkov with a shorthand Panthers goal

Aleksander Barkov rips a shot into the net and puts the Panthers up 2 against the Lightning.

Regular-season records:

Bruins: 47-20-15, 109 points
Maple Leafs: 46-26-10, 102 points

Leading scorers:

Bruins: David Pastrnak, 110 points (47 G, 63 A)
Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, 107 points (69 G, 38 A)

Consensus pick: Bruins

Schedule: (BOS wins 4-3)

Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs

David Pastrnak’s OT winner sends TD Garden into a frenzy in Game 7

David Pastrnak sends the Bruins faithful home happy with a spectacular game-winning goal in overtime to close out the Maple Leasfs in Game 7.

Metropolitan Division

Regular-season records:

Rangers: 55-23-4, 114 points
Capitals: 40-31-11, 91 points

Leading scorers:

Rangers: Artemi Panarin, 120 points (49 G, 71 A)
Capitals: Dylan Strome, 67 points (27 G, 40 A)

Consensus pick: Rangers

Schedule: (NYR wins 4-0)

Keys to the offseason for the Capitals

Jack Roslovic seals Rangers sweep with empty-net goal

Jack Roslovic caps off the Rangers’ night with an empty-net goal to make it 4-2, sealing the 4-0 sweep vs. the Capitals.

Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 52-23-7, 111 points
Islanders: 39-27-16, 94 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, 89 points (36 G, 53 A)
Islanders: Mathew Barzal, 80 points (23 G, 57 A)

Consensus pick: Canes

Schedule: (CAR wins 4-1)

Keys to the offseason for the Islanders

Hurricanes score 2 goals in 8 seconds to go ahead

Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen score eight seconds apart in the third period and the Hurricanes take a lead.

Central Division

Regular-season records:

Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points
Golden Knights: 45-29-8, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Stars: Jason Robertson, 80 points (29 G, 51 A)
Golden Knights: Jonathan Marchessault, 69 points (42 G, 27 A)

Consensus pick: Stars

Schedule: (Stars win 4-3)

Radek Faksa scores 44 seconds into 3rd period

Radek Faksa scores quickly in the third period to give the Stars a 2-1 lead.

Regular-season records:

Jets: 52-24-6, 110 points
Avalanche: 50-25-7, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Jets: Mark Scheifele, 72 points (25 G, 47 A)
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, 140 points (51 G, 89 A)

Consensus pick: Avs

Schedule: (COL wins 4-1)

Keys to the offseason for the Jets

Mikko Rantanen scores back-to-back goals in third period

Mikko Rananen scores back-to-back goals to give the Avalanche a 5-3 lead in the third period vs. the Jets.

Pacific Division

Regular-season records:

Canucks: 50-23-9, 109 points
Predators: 47-30-5, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Canucks: J.T. Miller, 103 points (37 G, 66 A)
Predators: Filip Forsberg, 94 points (48 G, 46 A)

Consensus pick: Canucks

Schedule: (VAN wins 4-2)

Keys to the offseason for the Predators

Canucks lockup series on lone goal from Pius Suter in final minutes

Pius Suter scores a goal in the third period to give the Canucks a 1-0 win and series victory vs. the Predators.

Regular-season records:

Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points
Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers: Connor McDavid, 132 points (32 G, 100 A)
Kings: Adrian Kempe, 75 points (28 G, 47 A)

Consensus pick: Oilers

Schedule: (EDM wins 4-1)

Keys to the offseason for the Kings

Zach Hyman makes it 4-2 Oilers to end 2nd period

Zach Hyman scores in the second period to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead heading into the third period vs. the Kings.

Sports

Springer out after 3rd base hop, ending Jays’ rally

Published

3 hours ago

June 1, 2025

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Springer out after 3rd base hop, ending Jays' rally

Associated Press

Jun 1, 2025, 04:20 PM ET

TORONTO — Blue Jays outfielder George Springer skipped into third base on a key RBI hit by teammate Alejandro Kirk, and hopped right into an inning-ending out in the fifth on Sunday against the Athletics.

Springer was called out following a replay review after Athletics third baseman Max Schuemann alertly kept his glove on the Blue Jays right fielder while Springer hopped up and down on third base.

Springer, who had reached on an RBI single that opened the scoring for Toronto, was celebrating Kirk’s double that cut the deficit to 3-2.

The out call meant Toronto slugger Addison Barger didn’t get to bat with runners at second and third.

Schuemann had just entered the game as a defensive replacement, taking over for Miguel Andujar.

The Athletics had lost five straight and 16 of 17 entering Sunday.

Sports

Phils moving Walker to relief in bullpen shakeup

Published

6 hours ago

June 1, 2025

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Phils moving Walker to relief in bullpen shakeup

ESPN News Services

Jun 1, 2025, 01:16 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies made moves to restructure their bullpen Sunday, removing Taijuan Walker from the rotation and recalling right-handed reliever Seth Johnson before their series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Mick Abel will take Walker’s place in the starting rotation Thursday in Toronto. Reliever Jose Ruiz was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Johnson.

“I think Tai’s got a chance to make us a lot better coming out of the ‘pen,” manager Rob Thomson said.

Walker has made 10 appearances, including eight starts and two long relief appearances, with a 2-4 record and 3.53 ERA in 43⅓ innings. Thomson will use Walker in one-inning roles.

The 32-year-old Walker has been primarily a starter throughout his 13-year career. He is in the third year of a $72 million, four-year contract.

Abel made his major league debut on May 18, throwing six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old was the No. 15 pick in the 2020 amateur draft.

Johnson, 26, is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 33 innings with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, transitioning from the starting rotation to a relief role. He made one appearance for the Phillies last year, allowing nine earned runs in 2⅓ innings on Sept. 8 against Miami.

Johnson was acquired by the Phillies from Baltimore on July 30, 2024, in a trade for Gregory Soto.

Ruiz had an 8.16 ERA in 14⅓ innings this season, including allowing five runs in one inning of Saturday’s 17-7 loss to the Brewers. The 30-year-old right-hander had a 5-1 record and 3.71 ERA in 52 appearances in 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sports

Rangers keep slumping slugger Garcia on bench

Published

6 hours ago

June 1, 2025

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Rangers keep slumping slugger Garcia on bench

Associated Press

Jun 1, 2025, 01:40 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas — Slumping Rangers slugger Adolis García was held out of Texas’ lineup for the third consecutive day Sunday, with president of baseball operations Chris Young saying the club wants the 2023 ALCS MVP to make some mechanical changes.

“We need him to kind of commit to some of these changes that we think will get him back to the ’23 version of himself and help him be the player that we know he can be,” Young said before Texas’ series finale against St. Louis.

García is hitting .155 in the past 20 games with 25 strikeouts. He is hitting .208 overall, with seven homers and a team-high 27 RBIs for a Rangers club that has struggled offensively. He ranked 14th in the majors with 122 home runs over the past four seasons.

García, who has started 55 of Texas’ 60 games in right field this season, missed only one other game before this weekend, with manager Bruce Bochy saying Friday that García was being given a mental break.

“It’s about the mental reset and coming back with more energy,” García told reporters Saturday. “I’m working on some stuff without the pressure of having to do something up there.”

García, 32, is in the final season of a two-year contract.

The anticipated return of Evan Carter to the active roster Tuesday, joining Wyatt Langford, Alejandro Osuna and Sam Haggerty, further crowds the Rangers outfield as García tries to return to the lineup.

“It’s going to be performance-driven at this point,” Young said.

Texas also made three roster moves before Sunday’s game. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (triceps fatigue) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday, catcher Tucker Barnhart was designated for assignment, and right-hander Codi Heuer was selected from Triple-A Round Rock.