MIAMI, JUNE 18 (AFP/APP/DNA):The Florida Panthers, powered by Sam Reinhart’s four-goal effort, captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup on Tuesday, defeating Edmonton 5-1 to win the NHL Final.
Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots while Matthew Tkachuk added a goal for the Panthers, who took the best-of-seven series 4-2.
After claiming their first crown last year, the Panthers become the first NHL club since Tampa Bay in 2020-21 to win back-to-back titles.
Florida beat Edmonton in seven games in last year’s Stanley Cup final after squandering a 3-0 series lead, but this time dominated the final two games to hoist the trophy.
Not since Montreal beat Boston in 1977 and 1978 had a team defeated the same foe in the final two years in a row.
Reinhart became only the fourth player to score seven goals in an NHL Final after Jean Beliveau in 1956, Mike Bossy in 1982 and Wayne Gretzky in 1985.
The Oilers, seeking their sixth crown overall, have not won the Cup since 1990.
No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since Montreal in 1993.
Florida became only the eighth NHL team to clinch the Cup on home ice in back-to-back seasons, the first since the Oilers in 1987 and 1988.
Edmonton selected Stuart Skinner as the starting goaltender after using Calvin Pickard in a 5-2 game-five loss on Saturday.
Skinner had been yanked from game four after surrendering three goals in the first period before Edmonton rallied for a 5-4 overtime triumph.
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