Florida Panthers are heading to their third straight Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in the NHL Eastern Conference Final. Team captain Aleksander Barkov knows they’re on the verge of back-to-back championships and sent a bold message to the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars, with Connor McDavid and Mikko Rantanen battling for the last spot in the league’s grand finale.
It’s no longer a surprise to see the Panthers making history. They were relentless against Carolina, and in the second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, they showed their ability to bounce back from a 0–2 deficit. Florida continues to prove to the rest of the league that it’s a serious title contender—whether it’s against the Stars or the Oilers.
Edmonton leads the Western Conference Final 3-1 over Dallas, and one more win would result in a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, which the Panthers won. McDavid may be eyeing long-awaited redemption, but Rantanen and the Stars are standing in his way. Meanwhile, Barkov and the rest of the Florida squad wait patiently—yet hungry for glory.
Barkov’s warning to Oilers and Stars
“We didn’t come here to win the Eastern Conference. I’m not saying anything bad about it, but we got where we wanted, we’re in the Final once again, and we want to win the Stanley Cup just like any other team,” captain Barkov said after the win over the Canes, according to NHL.com.
Aleksander Barkov, the captain of the Panthers
“It’s hard to explain right now. Great feelings… everyone is excited and happy. Obviously, the experience helps. We know what it takes and how hard we need to work,”Barkov said when asked about how last year’s Stanley Cup Final experience influences the Panthers.
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When will the Stanley Cup Final be played?
The Oilers are the favorites to reach the Stanley Cup Final, but Dallas is aiming for something epic and hopes to turn the series around. If Edmonton wins Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, the series will begin next Wednesday, June 4. If the Stars manage to tie the series and force a Game 6, the Final would start on Saturday, June 7.
