Panthers’ return to Stanley Cup Final is 5th straight for Florida teams

For the second year in a row, the Florida Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Final, giving the Sunshine State representation for five years running.

Over the previous five years, the teams from “non-traditional” hockey markets—the Lightning and Panthers—have dominated the postseason scene more so than the Original Six or Canadian teams (apart from Montreal in 2021 and Edmonton this season).

Despite not having a Cup yet, the Panthers could have one in a few weeks. Furthermore, no club has played in the playoffs as long as the Lightning have, winning three straight Finals, eleven straight playoff series, and back-to-back titles in 2020 and 21.

Similar to the Lightning, the Panthers base their strategy on winning culture within the locker room and strong on-ice defense. With a pay ceiling intended to promote parity, Florida will soon have to contend with some of the same obstacles to maintaining its prosperity.

Forming a winning roster

Few Panthers players can claim Florida as their initial team, even though the Lightning’s championship teams were primarily assembled through the draft.

However, the Panthers, like the Lightning, were able to bind important players to deals that would benefit their organization. General manager Bill Zito acquired center Sam Bennett from Calgary and defenseman Brandon Montour from Anaheim during the shortened 2021 season. Both were re-signed to multi-season contracts, providing the team with cap flexibility in the years with hard caps.

They also were essential in the the Panthers’ growth into probably the league’s top two-way squad. With 2.41 goals allowed per game during the regular season and 2.29 goals allowed so far this postseason, Florida was the top defensive team in the NHL. During the regular season, it had the greatest 5-on-5 for/against record in the Eastern Conference, and it presently leads all postseason clubs.