The Panthers’ surprising run as an eighth-seeded team might not be too far off from another eighth-seeded team that went...
The Florida Panthers have become the biggest story of this year’s playoffs, surprising everyone as a scrappy eighth-seeded team going up against top competition and consistently getting the best of their opponents . It’s the kind of story that feels so surreal that you’ve definitely never seen it before.
The easiest answers were the fact that they ranked dead last in 5v5 shooting percentage at 6.04%, and had the fourth-worst win percentage in one-goal games with .370%, good for a record of 17-14-15. Translation: they had terrible luck when it came to scoring, which punished them particularly in close games when they needed just one goal to tie or win the game.
Along with that, it was how they were getting those chances that improved their play. No longer relying solely on the rush to generate offense, they had an offense with a more diverse skillset to create chances, highlighted by the addition of Matthew Tkachuk. Their reward for grinding their way to a playoff spot? The Presidents’ Trophy winner, of course. The 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks weren’t quite the powerhouse that the 2022-23 Bruins appeared to be, but they were fresh off a run to the Stanley Cup that fell just one game short. The Kings took out the Canucks a bit more easily as well, only needing five games while the Panthers had to grind yet again to comeback from down 3-1 to win the series in seven.
They’ve also pretty much always had to face the best possible teams on their route. Along with the Presidents’ Trophy winning Canucks, the Kings faced the second-seeded St. Louis Blues and the third-seeded Phoenix Coyotes to win the West, and almost would have faced the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed in the New York Rangers if not for the sixth-seeded Devils upsetting them in the Conference Finals.
Oh, and the Kings 2011-12 run gave them the first Stanley Cup in their franchise’s history. If the Panthers pull it off, it will also be their franchise’s first.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NHL playoffs: Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky has gone from disaster to saviourThe Panthers rode into the NHL playoffs with Alex Lyon in net, but Sergei Bobrovsky has become the biggest reason for their surprising postseason success.
Read more »
Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 33: Tkachuk scores OT winner lifting Panthers to 2-0 series leadMatthew Tkachuk was the overtime hero once again as the Panthers take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference...
Read more »
Panthers playing 'with confidence' no matter what is thrown at themTSN NHL analyst Frankie Corrado joins SportsCentre to talk about how the Panthers were able to prevail with the win in overtime, the play of Sergei Bobrovsky and what the Hurricanes can do to turn the series around.
Read more »
NHL playoffs: Matthew Tkachuk scores second consecutive OT winner, Panthers go up 2-0Matthew Tkachuk scored his third overtime winner of the Stanley Cup playoffs to send the Panthers back home with a 2-0 series lead.
Read more »
Matthew Tkachuk scores another OT winner, lifts Panthers to 2-0 series lead over HurricanesMatthew Tkachuk finished off a second straight overtime win \u002D\u002D this time needing only a few minutes instead of four extra periods.
Read more »