The Florida Panthers have accomplished a remarkable milestone by reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight season. This latest achievement firmly establishes them as perennial contenders and puts them on the cusp of true dynasty status, reflecting a sustained excellence rarely seen in the NHL’s modern era.

Their latest trip to the championship round was secured with a 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Now, the Panthers await the Edmonton Oilers who won the series in Game 5 on May 29, 2025, with a 6-3 victory over the Stars. This matchup will decide whether they will secure their second straight Cup victory.

The sustained success of the Panthers has drawn significant attention from the hockey world—fans and bettors alike—and examining the road taken by the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Finals is instructive. Their consistent dominance, combined with a roster depth and strategic coaching, makes this rematch highly anticipated and a true test of their emerging dynasty.

A Rare Standard of Consistency

Making three straight trips to the league’s final series is a truly historic accomplishment for the Florida Panthers. The franchise is now just the ninth in NHL history to achieve this number of consecutive final appearances.

Notably, they are only the second team in the past 40 years to reach the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row, joining the Tampa Bay Lightning who did so from 2020 to 2022. This sustained presence at the pinnacle of the sport underscores the team’s consistent performance and elite status.

Navigating the Eastern Conference Gauntlet

Florida’s path to the Stanley Cup Final involved conquering tough opposition in the Eastern Conference. In the first round, the Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a five-game series. They then faced a significant challenge in the second round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, ultimately winning that series in seven games.

Their third consecutive Eastern Conference Final victory came against the Carolina Hurricanes, which they achieved in five games. This sequence of series wins demonstrates the team’s resilience and ability to overcome a wide range of diverse opponents.

Key Personnel Stepping Up

Crucial performances from key individuals and strategic decisions by the coaching staff were vital to the Panthers’ playoff success. Center Aleksander Barkov provided a signature moment in the Eastern Conference Final, making a remarkable play behind the net and setting up a game-winning goal for forward Carter Verhaeghe in Game 5.

Offensively, the effort has been shared, with 19 skaters recording at least one goal in the postseason, led by center Sam Bennett who has scored 10 goals. The team’s ability to find offense from multiple sources has been a significant factor in their success.

Faith in the Goaltender

A critical decision involved standing by the team’s starting goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky. Despite allowing nine goals on 50 shots in the first two games of the second round against Toronto, coach Paul Maurice maintained faith in his number one goalie.

This trust paid dividends, as Bobrovsky’s performance significantly improved, becoming a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Since those initial games, he has recorded eight wins and two losses with a 1.57 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage, including two shutouts.

Depth and Defense Contributions

The offensive output from a wide array of players, particularly defensemen, stands out as a significant factor in Florida’s playoff run. Having 19 different skaters score a goal is a near-historic achievement in the NHL playoffs, with only eight teams ever having more unique goal-scorers in a single postseason.

Perhaps even more impressively, seven different defensemen have scored goals, accounting for 15 goals across 17 games.

This defensive scoring depth has allowed the team to match another record; seven defensemen scoring matches. That is the most by a team in a single postseason, a record now shared with several other franchises including the 1987 Oilers and 2019 Bruins.

Regular Season Performance and Final Matchup

Florida entered the postseason as the third-place team in the Atlantic Division, concluding the regular season with 47 wins, 31 losses, and 4 overtime losses for a total of 98 points.

The opponent will be the Edmonton Oilers, setting up a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final.

The Turning Point Against Toronto

Facing a 2-0 series deficit at home in Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs marked a critical moment. After losing a 4-3 lead late in the third period, the team needed a decisive play.

Forward Brad Marchand delivered the overtime winner at 15:27 of the extra frame, securing a 5-4 victory and cutting the series deficit to 2-1. This win ignited a hot streak for the Panthers, leading to eight wins in their next ten games heading into the final series.

What Lies Ahead

By reaching the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year, the Florida Panthers have solidified their status among the league’s elite franchises. Their consistent success raises questions about whether they are on the cusp of establishing a dynasty, reflecting a level of dominance and resilience few teams achieve.

The upcoming series will determine if they can secure their second consecutive championship, a feat achieved by only two teams since 2017. Regardless of the outcome, this sustained period of excellence provides a benchmark for the organization and its supporters, inspiring future generations and elevating the franchise’s legacy within the NHL.

By Chris Bates