Photo courtesy of NHL.com (Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – The Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup Tuesday night, with a 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Two Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) alumni helped the Panthers take the Cup.
GTHL ALUMNI (2)
- Sam Bennett (Toronto Marlboros)
- Evan Rodrigues (Toronto Marlboros)
The Panthers finished the regular season with a 47-31-4 record, good for 98 points, placing them third in the Atlantic Division. In the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they took on their state rival Tampa Bay Lightning, taking a convincing 4-1 series victory. Sam Bennett led the team with three goals, adding two assists for five points in five games.
Next, the Panthers took on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round, surviving an early series scare and to rally back from a 2-0 deficit and win the series in seven games. Bennett once again tied for the team lead with three goals, along with one assist for four points in seven games. Evan Rodrigues picked up three assists, including two in a crucial come from behind win in game three.
The Panthers faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals, steamrolling Carolina on route to a 4-1 series victory. Bennett and Rodrigues tied for the series lead in scoring, along with teammates Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, both picking up seven points in the five game series as the Panthers set up a Stanley Cup Finals rematch with the Edmonton Oilers.
One year removed from a dramatic seven game victory over Edmonton, the Panthers once again came out victorious, this time winning in six games. After an overtime loss in game one, the Panthers took over the series, winning four of the next five games, including a dominant 6-1 win over the Oilers in game three, and a commanding 5-1 win in the deciding game in Sunrise.
Bennett was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the NHL playoffs. He led the league in playoff goal scoring with 15, including an NHL record 13 scored on the road. Bennett also picked up seven assists for a total of 22 points in 23 games. Rodrigues finished the playoffs with two goals and 13 assists for 15 points in 21 games.
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