The Florida Panthers are heading back to the Stanley Cup Final, this year having followed a very different path.
In 2023, the Panthers were the underdog in every series they played. They were the last team to make the playoffs with just 92 points but they managed to steamroll their way past Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Final.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, last year's final did not go to plan. Hence why the team just needs to win one game to tie their win total at 13 from last year's postseason. This year very could be different.
The Florida Panthers have learned a lot over the past season.
Without a doubt the Panthers are experienced. They have played plenty of playoff hockey over the last two years, definitely more so than the Edmonton Oilers. This is Edmonton's first time in the Stanley Cup Final since 2006, the first in Connor McDavid's career.
There is a chance the Oilers could be caught off guard in the moment, something the Panthers definitely know all too well having fallen behind 2-0 in last year's Stanley Cup Final.
Florida is entering this year's final the way Vegas did last year. On paper, they are the better team and they have something to prove after a disappointing end to their last trip to the Final.
Underdog turned big dog
The Panthers embraced the underdog mentality last season. They didn't care that their opponent was favored in arguably every series, in fact they embraced it. The same way the team is now embracing a big dog mentality.
The Panthers have played physical against every team they played this postseason. They shut down the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers in each of the past three rounds, and they are now going to faceoff with the Oilers.
A lot can change in a season, the Panthers find themselves just four wins away from winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup—and this time around they look ready to do so.