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The key veterans still in the Stanley Cup playoffs looking for their first cup

By Jim Lynch

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 02: Joe Pavelski #16 of the Dallas Stars celebrates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken in the first period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 02: Joe Pavelski #16 of the Dallas Stars celebrates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken in the first period in Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SUNRISE, FL – MAY 10: Marc Staal #18 of the Florida Panthers prepares for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 10, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. The Maple Leafs defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – MAY 10: Marc Staal #18 of the Florida Panthers prepares for a face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 10, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. The Maple Leafs defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

Florida Panthers:

The Panthers have three veteran players all looking for their first Stanley Cup. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is the first to mention as he has been the backbone of the team throughout the 10 games he has played for the team so far. Bobrovsky has played in 61 playoff games in his career and with the Conference Final starting in the next few days, his playoff games with the Panthers will become his longest tenured stretch as he currently has played in 27 playoff games in Florida and 27 in Columbus.

This has been one of Bobrovsky’s best showcases in the playoffs. His .918 save percentage in the first two rounds has been terrific, second only to his 2019 playoff run with the Blue Jackets.

This will be Bobrovsky’s first trip to the Conference Final in his career, but there are a few other players to note from the Panthers.

Marc Staal, 36, has played in 119 playoff games in his career. His best run came in 2013-14 when the New York Rangers went to the Stanley Cup Final. He is playing a big role on this Panthers blue line and is getting the opportunity to play with his brother Eric as well.

Zac Dalpe is another player to mention. The 33 year old forth liner has played in just 168 regular season games in his career after getting drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. Yet he finds himself heading to the Conference Finals with a really good Panthers team. Dalpe has one goal so far this postseason and previously played in the playoffs back in 2015-16 with the Minnesota Wild.

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