How the Panthers avoided a post-Stanley Cup hangover — and why they might win it again
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
Jordan Staal sat in his locker looking shell-shocked. Again.
The Carolina Hurricanes had just been blown out for the second straight night — a rarity in itself — but by the same team, no less: the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
And it was fair to say the Canes captain was reeling from the experience.
“We got beat in every facet,” Staal said following the 6-0 drubbing last month. “Not a whole lot of positives out of any of it.”
Even less so when the outcome just 24 hours earlier — a 6-3 defeat for the Hurricanes — had prompted Staal to point out the Panthers “don’t give you anything — it’s always a battle against that team.”
Call it cliché. But the rest of the league would co-sign. In an era where it’s tough enough to go on one Cup Final run, the Panthers are fresh off back-to-back journeys (with one victory) and appear no worse for wear despite long springs and short offseasons.
It’s not just that, though. Florida has had to re-tool it’s roster, letting go of certain personnel (namely Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson) while prioritizing in-house extensions (looking at you, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe).
Still, the Panthers are an elite club, battling for first place in the Atlantic Division and remaining (mostly) on track through the quarter mark of this season.
How have they done it? What’s kept Florida from falling off? And can they sustain — and extend — their success into another Cup run, as just the second team in nearly four decades to make three straight Final appearances?
It could happen. Here’s why.
WHEN REINHART COLLECTED an astonishing 57 goals in a career-best showing last season, it was easy (and predictable) to suspect he’d fail to reach such heights again.
Well, consider this season Reinhart’s rebuttal.
The 29-year-old is earning every dollar of the eight-year, $69 million contract extension he inked on July 1 as not only the Panthers’ leading scorer but sitting top 10 in the league (with 18 goals and 34 points through 26 games). Reinhart sets a tone for Florida’s offense as a high-powered, unrelenting force that’s deep with talent.
Sure, the Panthers have other stars producing. Aleksander Barkov has 25 points in 18 games. Matthew Tkachuk has 23 in 21. But how about Anton Lundell (19 points), Evan Rodrigues (13 points) and of course Verhaeghe (20 points) and Sam Bennett (24 points)?
Florida is averaging the fourth-most goals this season (3.65 per game) by being the opposite of a one-line wonder. That can make things hard on an opponent.
“The Panthers can generate scoring in unique ways,” an Atlantic Division defenseman said. “There’s no real script with how they’ll attack. It’s tough to prepare for them.”
They’ve proven it before. Florida’s offense is trending above where it ended off in 2023-24 (11th overall, averaging 3.23 goals per game). But the trend, year-over-year, is clear: the Panthers’ depth holds up even through injuries, scoring slumps and losing streaks.
The Panthers were in a season-long skid through early November, dropping six of seven, and searching for answers. They responded with three routs — first of the Toronto Maple Leafs and then the two takedowns of Carolina — with a combined 17 goals scored. Florida has never been afraid to look inward and honestly assess its issues. That’s how the Panthers’ offense finally rebounded.
“It’s not about … fixing. It’s [saying] okay, the problem is identified,” coach Paul Maurice said. “To play that [elite] way every night is very, very difficult. And we’ve been looking for a bit of that emotional well, about where do we get the energy to play like that again.”
Maurice knows how to get the most of this group, too. Saturday’s 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks made Maurice the winningest coach in Panthers’ history, with 111 victories under his belt (he’s 111-65-16 overall) since replacing Andrew Brunette behind the bench in 2022. And Maurice isn’t going anywhere after signing a multi-year extension with the Panthers in October.
If Reinhart is steering the offense with his output, then Tkachuk is powering his team’s engine in other ways. Even when the latter doesn’t make it onto the scoresheet, he’s providing the intangibles that only he can, and that’s been a difference-making mentality for Florida since Tkachuk came on board three years ago.
“Our entire game is better at a certain emotional level, and he is the driver of that,” Maurice said. “Matthew brings an intensity to the game every night. He’s just wired into it. He’s not faking it. That’s just the way he is when the puck is dropped, and that’s infectious.”
IT’S EASY TO BE a Florida Panther.
That was the refrain from players like Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo when they were acquired by the team at last year’s trade deadline.
“They’ve been so good,” Okposo told ESPN last month of the Panthers helping him transition. “The organization has extremely high standards and there’s no secret what the expectations are. That’s an exciting thing.”
GM Bill Zito projects to be busy again working the phones to strengthen an area the Panthers haven’t been dominant in — goal prevention. Florida is seventh-worst in goals against per game (3.33), a long way from where they left off last season (second, 2.41).
It was inevitable that losing Montour and Ekman-Larsson in free agency would leave a significant void on the Panthers’ blue line that Adam Boqvist and Nate Schmidt — two low-cost, free-agent signees — have not entirely filled. Zito is in the market for a right-shot defender who can elevate that group.
That will be tricky considering the Panthers will have only about $2.9 million in available cap space ahead of the March 7 deadline. That’s where Zito’s forte at finding the right pieces for the right price pays off. He’ll need that again, because his team faces every opponent’s best every night out.
EVERYONE WANTS TO BEAT the best — and take the proverbial throne. It’s part of what makes any sport great.
For a team on top like the Panthers, that means bearing the heavy target on your back without cracking under the pressure.
That’s another area in which Florida is able to excel.
“Yes, other teams are playing us possibly even harder than they did last year,” Maurice said. “You’re getting everybody’s A-game. In the games that we think we were emotionally in tune, we’ve been pretty darn good. We’re dealing with, and have dealt with, what we thought would be the challenge: It would be the emotional energy to play our game.”
Doing that night after night can take a toll, but the Panthers are nothing if not resilient. Consider their recent bout against the Philadelphia Flyers, where Florida blew an early 3-0 lead to hang on for a 7-5 victory. Emotions? They were high. And the Panthers used them to fuel their overall performance instead of making excuses for mistakes.
It’s true that every team will have their hills to climb — because of anything from injuries to unexpected sub-par play — but not all clubs can stand tall in the face of those trials. Florida does. The Panthers’ goaltending this season is an example of it. Florida’s gone primarily with a tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight, and neither netminder has stunning stats; Bobrovsky owns an .890 save percentage and 3.04 goals-against average, while Knight is at .890 and 2.84.
Florida’s dynamic offense has picked up slack for the team’s more porous defense and goaltending. Sometimes, that’s what it takes. Of course, the Panthers want to be well-rounded and effective in every area, and it goes back on Zito to make the proper adjustments. But the Panthers are special in that they can lean on one aspect of their game to keep them on an elite track while still improving those other areas.
Even through all their achievements the Panthers aren’t resting on any laurels.
WHEN THE PANTHERS aren’t at their best, it’s obvious what’s missing: the (sometimes) dirty details.
Great zone entries and exits don’t make the highlight reel. All but a few of the hockey-obsessed are scanning for who won the most board battles or broke the puck out effectively through the neutral zone. But those things come with the territory of being champions. And Florida is excellent in every of those categories.
The Panthers innately know themselves. They’re a physical team, and that has to be on display. It’s no wonder that Florida is averaging the third-most hits per 60 minutes this season (27.68) and they’re top five in takeaways (5.76 per game).
Flash and finesse are easily relished. But balancing that with grittiness, physicality and a workmanlike effort can set a club apart — and tee them up for rounds of victory when it matters the most.
“I think we’re structurally ahead of where we were in each of the last two years,” Maurice said. “So when you cut video, you’re not cutting video on where we’re out of position on our neutral-zone defense, so there’s not a lot of technical stuff that we’re doing right now.”
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Sam Reinhart scores on the power play for Florida Panthers
Sam Reinhart scores on the power play for Florida Panthers
CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY. Florida has been dominant on the power play this season (third overall, at 28.4%) and have an above-average penalty kill (12th, 80.8%), both of which can be difference-making momentum-drivers.
How do we know? Roll the tape.
Since 2022-23, the Panthers are eighth overall on the man advantage (23.9%) and 14th overall shorthanded (79.4%). The certainty behind those numbers breeds confidence in a team, and that’s how Florida can push through periods where even-strength offense is at a premium or they aren’t as dialled in defensively.
That’s not to say the Panthers aren’t dependable at 5-on-5. Florida is top-10 in even-strength scoring the past three seasons, and sixth overall in goals per game (3.43).
Fact is, Florida has found its formula. The Panthers have stayed atop the league because they’re built not for short bursts of achievement but to thrive for sustained stretches. That’s a foundation most teams would strive towards, and it’s what separates these Cats from the pack when it matters most — like, say, in the playoffs.
It’s impossible to say what the next six months will bring for Florida. If the Panthers stay on pace though, there’s potent for another short and sweet offseason — a prospect any team would like looming in December.
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun with 16 teams looking to be the last one standing after four grueling rounds of playoff hockey action. The Florida Panthers return to defend their championship, but will have to contend with regular-season powerhouses including the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals and the Edmonton Oilers.
The Panthers first have to contend with their cross-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning, but got off to a strong start in Game 1 with 6-2 road win. The victory saw the Panthers leapfrog several teams to be given the second-shortest odds behind only the Carolina Hurricanes, who have emerged as the Eastern Conference favorites thanks to a 2-0 series lead over the banged-up New Jersey Devils.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, looking to snap the longest championship drought in NHL history, are up 2-0 on their provincial rivals, the Ottawa Senators, and are now among the top five favorites. The Capitals took care of business in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens with Alex Ovechkin scoring his first career playoff OT winner and followed it up with a Game 2 victory to take a commanding series lead.
In the West, two of the favorites clash in the first round as the Dallas Stars take on the Colorado Avalanche with the teams trading wins in Games 1 and 2, followed by a Game 3 road win by the Stars which saw the teams essentially trade places in the odds race. The Jets have a 2-0 series lead on the St. Louis Blues, while the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild traded wins in Games 1 and 2. The Oilers lost both their road games to the Los Angeles Kings, who are considered the favorite in this series, and must now win at home to get back into the race.
Last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Connor McDavid, won the top award for playoffs MVP despite his team not winning the championship. This year, he hopes to win it again, but on a happier note. Below, you can see all of the top favorites for Conn Smythe, as well as the odds for every team to win their opening-round series, advance to, and to win the Stanley Cup.
All odds accurate as of publish time. For more, go to ESPN BET. 
Odds to win Conn Smythe trophy
The Conn Smythe is awarded to the player deemed to have been the most valuable to his team throughout the playoffs. Players listed with 200-1 odds or better. More odds available at ESPN BET..
Connor Hellebuyck, Jets: 12-1
Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes: 15-1
Jack Eichel, Golden Knights: 16-1
Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs: 18-1
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche: 18-1
Aleksander Barkov, Panthers: 20-1
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals: 20-1
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs: 20-1
Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers: 20-1
Seth Jarvis, Hurricanes: 20-1
Adrian Kempe, Kings: 25-1
Cale Makar, Avalanche: 25-1
Darcy Kuemper, Kings: 25-1
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes: 25-1
Jake Oettinger, Stars: 25-1
Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs: 25-1
Nikita Kucherov, Lightning: 25-1
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning: 30-1
Connor McDavid, Oilers: 30-1
Kyle Connor, Jets: 30-1
Logan Thompson, Capitals: 30-1
Mark Scheifele, Jets: 30-1
Sam Reinhart, Panthers: 30-1
Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers: 30-1
Tomas Hertl, Golden Knights: 30-1
Anze Kopitar, Kings: 40-1
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: 40-1
Logan Stankoven, Hurricanes: 40-1
Adin Hill, Golden Knights: 50-1
Brayden Point, Lightning: 50-1
Dylan Strome, Capitals: 50-1
Kevin Fiala, Kings: 50-1
Kirill Kaprizov, Wild: 50-1
Mackenzie Blackwood, Avalanche: 50-1
Mark Stone, Golden Knights: 50-1
William Nylander, Maple Leafs: 50-1
John Tavares, Maple Leafs: 60-1
Andrei Svechnikov, Hurricanes: 75-1
Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes: 75-1
Matt Boldy, Wild: 75-1
Mikko Rantanen, Stars: 75-1
Pavel Dorofeyev, Golden Knights: 75-1
Roope Hintz, Stars: 75-1
Wyatt Johnston, Stars: 75-1
Brady Tkachuk, Senators: 100-1
Connor McMichael, Capitals: 100-1
Filip Gustavsson, Wild: 100-1
Jason Robertson, Stars: 100-1
Linus Ullmark, Senators: 100-1
Miro Heiskanen, Stars: 100-1
Nico Hischier, Devils: 100-1
Pyotr Kochetkov, Hurricanes: 100-1
Quinton Byfield, Kings: 100-1
Sam Bennett, Panthers: 100-1
Tim Stutzle, Senators: 100-1
Brandon Hagel, Lightning: 150-1
Jacob Markstrom, Devils: 150-1
Jake Guentzel, Lightning: 150-1
Jordan Binnington, Blues: 150-1
Joseph Woll, Maple Leafs: 150-1
Martin Necas, Avalanche: 150-1
Matt Duchene, Stars: 150-1
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Capitals: 150-1
Shea Theodore, Golden Knights: 150-1
Thomas Harley, Stars: 150-1
Tom Wilson, Capitals: 150-1
Valeri Nichushkin, Avalanche: 150-1
Victor Hedman, Lightning: 150-1
Aliaksei Protas, Capitals: 200-1
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have already included some twists and turns, including long-injured players returning to the ice and others playing through various ailments.
Two teams carry 2-0 leads into Game 3 on Thursday, and history is on their side: according to ESPN Research, teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 86% of the time.
Will that be the case for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets? Or can the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues notch victories at home?
Plus, will the Florida Panthers win another game in the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s barn? And which team will win a pivotal Game 3 of the Vegas Golden Knights–Minnesota Wild series?
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Wednesday’s games, and the Three Stars of Wednesday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 2 (FLA leads 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. ET | TBS
With the Panthers up 1-0, ESPN BET has adjusted the series line to install Florida as the series favorite at -210, whereas the line was -115 before Game 1.
Matthew Tkachuk made his return after more than two months on the shelf, and scored two goals to help the Panthers take Game 1 in the Battle of Florida. Matthew and brother Brady both scored goals Tuesday, which was the 83rd time in Stanley Cup playoffs history that a pair of brothers scored on the same day, the most recent being Marcus and Nick Foligno on April 21, 2023.
Sergei Bobrovsky has backstopped the Cats to many playoff wins recently, and the Game 1 win was his 45th, putting him fifth all-time in playoff wins for goalies born outside North America. The leader? His opponent Andrei Vasilevskiy, with 66.
Nikita Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading point-scorer in the regular season, but was limited to just one assist in Game 1. Will that trend continue?
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
Game 3 (TOR leads 2-0) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
The Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series in the past 20 years, but they are halfway to doing so here in the Battle of Ontario. Oh, and speaking of decadeslong droughts, this is the first time the Leafs have held a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series since the 2002 series against the New York Islanders (which they won in seven games).
Max Domi was the overtime hero for the Leafs in Game 2, which was his first playoff OT goal. His father Tie played 98 playoff games in his NHL career, and never had one — albeit in a career where he was known more as a pugilist than a scorer.
Toronto’s Core Four continue to drive the train. John Tavares (two goals, two assists), Mitch Marner (one goal, three assists), William Nylander (one goal, two assists) and Auston Matthews (three assists) are in the top four positions on their stats sheet heading into Game 3. They’ve also gotten strong play from goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who became the sixth netminder in Leafs history to win his first two playoff games with the franchise — Ken Wregget, Mike Palmateer, Bernie Parent, Frank McCool and Lorne Chabot are the others.
One pathway to a comeback for Ottawa is for goaltender Linus Ullmark to steal a game or two. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner has allowed nine goals on 45 shots through two games, a save percentage of .800. Ullmark allowed just two goals on 50 shots in two games against Toronto in the regular season, both of which were wins for Ottawa.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild
Game 3 (series tied 1-1) | 9 p.m. ET | TBS
Why is this game so important? The winner of Game 3 in a series tied 1-1 has gone on to win 66% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history (240-123).
The Wild didn’t want to take any chances in Game 2, scoring three first-period goals and keeping the Knights at arm’s length for the remainder of the game. Kirill Kaprizov reminded everyone why he was a Hart Trophy favorite before getting injured this season, scoring two goals and adding a ridiculous assist on Matt Boldy‘s goal. Kaprizov’s second goal tied him with Marian Gaborik for the second-most playoff goals in Wild history, with 12, four behind Zach Parise.
On the Vegas side, “Playoff” Tomas Hertl has shown up, scoring a goal in each of the first two games. The longtime San Jose Shark is the fourth different player to score a goal in his first two games with the Golden Knights, a list that includes Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault.
The Knights are also hoping this is just a bump in the road for goaltender Adin Hill. He has an .833 save percentage through two games; that figure was .931 in three games last postseason and .932 in 14 starts during their Stanley Cup run in 2023.
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
Game 3 (WPG leads 2-0) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
One other bit of history working against the Blues: Presidents’ Trophy winners that have won Games 1 and 2 of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win that series 95% of the time (tracked since 1985-86).
The Blues will want to track Kyle Connor closely if the game hangs in the balance. He has scored the game-winning goal in both games thus far, giving him five in his career, passing Paul Stastny for the most in Jets 2.0/Atlanta Thrashers history.
St. Louis rookie Jimmy Snuggerud — who was playing for the University of Minnesota earlier this spring — became the second rookie to notch a goal this postseason, joining Carolina’s Logan Stankoven.
Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou — who led the Blues in regular-season scoring and both tallied goals in Game 1 — were held pointless in Game 2.
Arda’s three stars from Wednesday night
Sometimes the stat lines don’t matter. The Avs captain returning to the NHL for the first time since lifting the Cup in 2022 is a moment that transcends one team, and is celebrated throughout the hockey world. Welcome back, Gabe!
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Gabriel Landeskog makes triumphant return to Avs after 3-year absence
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog makes his return for the Avalanche after nearly three years on the sidelines due to a chronic knee injury.
Kempe scored two goals and added two assists as the Kings dismantled the Oilers 6-2 to take both games at home as the series now shifts to Edmonton.
Thompson made 25 saves, including some key stops on dangerous chances in the third period, to help the Caps beat the Habs 3-1 and take a 2-0 series lead.
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Messier: Logan Thompson won the game for the Caps
Mark Messier tells Scott Van Pelt the critical role Logan Thompson played for the Capitials in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens in Game 2.
Wednesday’s scores
Washington Capitals 3, Montreal Canadiens 1
(WSH leads 2-0)
Another game that was perhaps a bit closer than the pundits (and the fans in D.C.) expected. Montreal’s Christian Dvorak opened the scoring in the second period, before the Caps answered with two goals in a one-minute span from Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome. That lead would hold despite the Habs’ best efforts, thanks to some heroic saves from Logan Thompson. McMichael added an empty-netter just before the final buzzer to ensure that the fans went home happy, and that his team takes a 2-0 lead to Montreal for Game 3.
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Capitals take lead over Canadiens on back-to-back goals
Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome score a minute apart to put the Capitals ahead of the Canadiens in the second period.
Dallas Stars 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (OT)
(DAL leads 2-1)
The big story here was the return of Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog after three years. And a first-period goal from Valeri Nichushkin sent the crowd into a frenzy. But the Stars have veteran players of their own, and captain Jamie Benn tied the game midway through the third period, before Tyler Seguin tallied the game-winning goal at 5:31 of overtime.
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Tyler Seguin breaks Avs’ hearts with OT winner for Stars
Tyler Seguin spoils Gabriel Landeskog’s return with a goal to claim the Stars’ second overtime win as they take a 2-1 series lead vs. the Avalanche.
Los Angeles Kings 6, Edmonton Oilers 2
(LA leads 2-0)
For the past three postseasons, the Kings have been eliminated in the first round by the Oilers. Is this finally the year they get past their tormentors from Alberta? Continuing to score six goals per game would certainly help. Brandt Clarke got the party started with a power-play goal at 8:44 of the first period, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Quinton Byfield, Andrei Kuzmenko, Adrian Kempe (with two) and Anze Kopitar. The Kings’ power play has been electric in this series, as L.A. has scored five goals on 10 opportunities with the man advantage.
0:42
Adrian Kempe scores again as Kings close in on victory
Adrian Kempe’s second goal of the night makes it 6-2 Kings as they take full control of Game 2 against the Oilers.
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