MIAMI — Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had just ended and most of the Florida Panthers’ went at full speed to celebrate with Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to even the best-of-seven series with the Edmonton Oilers at 1-1.

Nate Schmidt went in a different direction when he got off the bench.

“Just ...Read more

It’s not the baby faces or different hair Aaron Ekblad mentions about a photo from his 2014 draft, the one passed around the Florida Panthers’ plane before this Stanley Cup Final of that year’s top four picks, in order: Ekblad, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.

“We were all laughing about how bad our shoes were,’’ he ...Read more

MIAMI — The Florida Panthers have found a way to thrive on the road during this Stanley Cup playoffs run. It’s a major reason why they’re back in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, why they’re oh so close to repeating as champions.

But with their best-of-seven Cup Final series with the Oilers tied 1-1 after opening the ...Read more

Take a sigh of relief, Florida Panthers fans.

Aaron Ekblad appears to be OK.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice on Saturday said the defenseman was fine after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot with his hand in the second overtime of Florida’s eventual 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday.

The blocked shot ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — Two games into this Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Two absolutely thrilling games of hockey, both of which went to overtime.

And, most importantly for the Panthers, a split so far in the series as the games shift to South Florida.

After falling in overtime in the series ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — For the second time this century, the Dallas Stars players got a coach fired.

Pete DeBoer just got Hitchcocked.

On Friday morning, the Stars announced they dismissed head coach Pete DeBoer, who in his three-year tenure led the team to the Western Conference finals each season. It is the most productive stretch in the ...Read more

DENVER — Front office executives know it is better to fall in like with players than fall in love.

The Avs and Nuggets continue to stretch the elasticity of loyalty, determined to run it back with rosters that fell short this spring. This point was driven home Wednesday as the Avs re-signed free agent Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Florida Panthers were in their comfort zone Wednesday — leading after two periods, ready to lock things down defensively. They’ve done it so many times during these Stanley Cup playoffs on their way to this point, a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers had other plans.

Mattias ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Inside the Lightning dressing room, there was no doubt Nikita Kucherov was the NHL’s most valuable player this season. This week, the star right winger received the ultimate endorsement from his peers across the league, winning the Ted Lindsay Award.

Commonly known as the “players’ MVP,” the Lindsay is the only award ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After vetting dozens of candidates in a lengthy search to try to find the right coach to lead the Penguins into the future, Kyle Dubas settled on a dark-horse selection.

The Penguins announced Wednesday that Dan Muse has been hired as their next coach. The 42-year-old is the 23rd coach in team history, replacing Mike Sullivan.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It didn't need to be a household name. In fact, when it comes to the NHL and its weird addiction to retread coaches, it's often more exciting when it's not.

It just has to work.

The subject at hand, of course, is Dan Muse, the 42-year-old the Penguins hired to become their next head coach on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't predict...Read more

MIAMI — Sam Bennett came to the Florida Panthers a little over four years ago in need of a change of scenery and a fresh chance. He wasn’t living up to the expectations of a top-five pick through his first five-plus seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, who traded him to Florida in April 2021.

Little did Bennett know how much things ...Read more

MIAMI — Sergei Bobrovsky knows what’s ahead of him and the Florida Panthers. They’re about to play in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final with a chance to repeat as champions after winning it all for the first time last year. It’s the biggest stage of the NHL season.

Bobrovsky also knows that, at its core, what’s ahead is just ...Read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Would the sports world be shocked to hear Sam Bennett helps abandoned dogs find homes — and adopted one such dog, Billy, from the Broward Humane Society himself?

Would it be shocked that Brad Marchand treated teammates to ice cream after a practice, like some Little League dad — and, well, he is 37, after all?

...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — The system isn’t the problem. The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t exit the playoffs with another loss to the Florida Panthers because of the way they play. Full stop.

The difference between the teams, the reason the Hurricanes have lost to the Panthers twice in the conference finals in three years, isn’t style. It’s talent....Read more

MIAMI — The Florida Panthers returned to the ice for practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday ahead of their Stanley Cup Final rematch against the Edmonton Oilers, which begins Wednesday at Rogers Place (8 p.m. ET, TNT, truTV, Max).

They did so without three regulars in forwards Anton Lundell, Eetu ...Read more

MIAMI — The NHL has its dream Stanley Cup Final in a Florida Panthers-Edmonton Oilers rematch: Reigning champion Cats out to break Canadian hearts again as the great Connor McDavid tries to exact his revenge and win the one prize that has eluded him.

Lots to unpack. Let’s dig right in as we savor Game 1 on Wednesday in the northwest:

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