Panthers Make History: Florida’s Hockey Dynasty Roars Again

Lynne Sladky/AP

In an era defined by parity and unpredictability, the Florida Panthers have defied the odds—and the heat—to become one of the NHL’s most dominant forces. On Tuesday night, the Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5–1 in Game 6 of the final series. This win secured Florida’s second straight title and etched their name into the history books as the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Leading the charge was forward Sam Reinhart, who scored four goals in a single game—something not seen in a Stanley Cup Final since Maurice Richard in 1957. With fans tossing both hats and rubber rats onto the ice, the moment felt surreal. Reinhart’s performance, along with Matthew Tkachuk’s Cup-clinching goal, gave Florida fans a celebration for the ages.

“I think this is as good as the first one,” Reinhart said after the game. “We stayed on the gas. Foot on the pedal.”

The Panthers showcased a complete team effort throughout the playoffs, with standout performances from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, captain Aleksander Barkov, and forward Sam Bennett, who was named playoff MVP after scoring a league-leading 15 goals this postseason. Depth players and trade acquisitions like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones also played key roles, with Marchand scoring six goals in the Final. Edmonton, led by superstar Connor McDavid, simply couldn’t overcome Florida’s tight defense and relentless pressure. Despite McDavid recording seven points in the series, he was shut down in key moments by Barkov and Bobrovsky. With this loss, Canada’s Stanley Cup drought now extends to 31 years, dating back to the Montreal Canadiens’ 1993 championship. From head coach Paul Maurice—now a two-time Cup winner—to the team’s fierce forechecking system, the Panthers have found a formula that works. They’ve now reached three consecutive Finals, winning two of them, and boast 11 playoff series wins in that span. As Matthew Tkachuk said during the celebration, “We’ve got to be a dynasty now.” In a league that once doubted hockey’s place in the American South, the Panthers are proving that the sport belongs in Florida—and they’re doing it with style, skill, and a lot of rubber rats.