How the Panthers reached their first Stanley Cup Final since ’96

The Panthers completed their sweep of the Hurricanes with Matthew Tkachuk’s late heroics sending Florida to their first Stanley Cup Final in decades.

That sound you heard is the growl of the Florida Panthers fans in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and worldwide.

The Panthers emerged victorious with a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, completing the 4-0 series sweep and securing their place in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996.

Mathew Tkachuk, once again, proved to be the hero for the Panthers, scoring twice. His second tally was the game-winner with 4.3 seconds remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
According to Sportsnet, Tkachuk’s game-winner in regulation became the latest series-winning goal in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, matching a record set by Nick Metz of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942.

It wasn’t the first time Tkachuk displayed his clutch ability in the series. In Games 1 and 2, he netted the overtime winners, further solidifying his status as a game-changer. With his incredible performances, Tkachuk has amassed nine goals and 12 assists in 16 postseason contests, making him the seventh player in the past decade with 20-plus points in his first postseason with a franchise.

His teammates were in awe of his contributions. Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad couldn’t help but express his admiration for Tkachuk’s exceptional play, saying, “What he’s done is unexplainable,” in a postgame interview with The Athletic’s Michael Russo.