How The Rangers Can Be Just Like The Panthers
How The Rangers Can Be Just Like The Panthers
Watching the Panthers maraud their way to the Stanley Cup Final round, some Rangers fans have asked me, "Well why can't our Blueshirts do that?"
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Five things to know about the Oilers-Panthers Stanley Cup final rematch
The Oilers will face the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final for the second straight year, starting with Game 1 in Edmonton on Wednesday. The Panthers won last season's showdown in seven games to collect their first-ever NHL title. Here are five things to look for in the rematch: SO CLOSE The Oilers looked down and out in last season's Cup final before rallying from 3-0 down to force a Game 7. And the decisive game came down to the slimmest of margins, with Sam Reinhart's second-period goal standing as the winner in a 2-1 Florida triumph. Had the Oilers managed to complete the comeback, they would have been the first Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup since 1993 and just the fifth team — and second in a Cup final — to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Advertisement --- HIT PARADE The Panthers have built their identity around being a hard-hitting team. With the likes of Sam Bennett, Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand patrolling the ice, the physical Panthers lead the playoffs in both hits (812) and penalty minutes (279). The Oilers can also throw the body and sit second in hits with 648. But they will have to make up for the loss of Zach Hyman against Florida. Hyman led the playoffs with 111 hits before undergoing surgery on an unspecified injury. --- GOING DEEP Bennett leads the playoffs with 10 goals, but the Panthers have had offensive contributions throughout their lineup. Nineteen players on their roster have scored in the post-season, and their defence is responsible for 15 goals in 17 games. But while the Panthers are known for their depth, 19 players have also scored for Edmonton during this playoff run. Not bad for a team once considered too reliant on superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Advertisement --- ELDER STATESMEN The Panthers picked up some playoff grit and veteran savvy when they acquired Marchand, the former Boston Bruins captain, at the trade deadline. Marchand, who turned 37 earlier this month, helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and is heading into his fourth final. Impressive, except when stacked against 40-year-old Edmonton forward Corey Perry. He is heading into his fifth final in six years. While he has come up short in his last four Cup finals, he helped Anaheim win it all in 2007. --- DYNASTY DAYS The state of Florida has been the undisputed epicentre of NHL success for the last six years. Between the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, teams from the Sunshine State have appeared in six straight Stanley Cup finals, winning three so far. But the combined success of the Panthers and Bolts hasn't quite reached the level of the high-flying Oilers of the 1980s, led by Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and other stars. Between 1982-83 and 1989-90, the Oilers won five Cups and were runners-up another time, creating one of the NHL's legendary dynasties. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. The Canadian Press
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Where to Watch the Rays vs. Rangers Series: TV Channel, Live Stream, Game Times and more
Where to Watch the Rays vs. Rangers Series: TV Channel, Live Stream, Game Times and more At George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday, the Texas Rangers (29-31) open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (30-29), at 7:35 p.m. ET. The Rays and Rangers are scheduled to compete in a three-game series that will conclude on Thursday. Keep track of the series as it plays out below. Watch Rays vs. Rangers on Fubo! How to Watch Rays vs. Rangers Series on TV or Streaming Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. ET (Drew Rasmussen vs. Tyler Mahle): FDSSUN and RSN | Watch on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. ET (Shane Baz vs. Kumar Rocker): FDSSUN and RSN | Watch on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Thursday at 7:35 p.m. ET (Ryan Pepiot vs. Jack Leiter): FDSSUN and RSN | Watch on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rays' Leading Hitters Junior Caminero has 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 10 walks and 37 RBIs (56 total hits). He has stolen three bases. Yandy Diaz has recorded 53 hits with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 14 walks. He has driven in 34 runs with three stolen bases. Jonathan Aranda has recorded 56 hits with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 22 walks. He has driven in 31 runs. Brandon Lowe has 50 hits with six doubles, 11 home runs and 15 walks. He has driven in 31 runs with two stolen bases. Rangers' Leading Hitters Wyatt Langford has collected 44 hits with seven doubles, 11 home runs and 23 walks. He has driven in 24 runs with 11 stolen bases. Josh Smith has put up 47 hits with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 18 walks. He has driven in 16 runs with seven stolen bases. Josh Jung has 52 hits with seven doubles, a triple, seven home runs, 11 walks and 23 RBIs. He's also stolen four bases. Marcus Semien has recorded 41 hits with two doubles, four home runs and 25 walks. He has driven in 21 runs with five stolen bases. Rays Pitching Rankings The 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Rays pitching staff ranks 25th in the majors. Tampa Bay's 3.49 team ERA ranks seventh among all MLB pitching staffs. The Rays have the fourth-lowest WHIP in MLB (1.168). Rays pitchers combine to allow 78 total home runs at a rate of 1.3 per game (fourth-most in MLB). Rangers Pitching Rankings The Rangers have an 8.0 K/9 this season as a pitching staff, which ranks 21st in the majors. Texas has the second-best ERA (3.10) in the majors this season. The Rangers have a combined 1.149 WHIP as a pitching staff, first-lowest in MLB. The Rangers have allowed the fifth-fewest home runs this season at just 50, or 0.8 per game. Watch Rays vs. Rangers on Fubo! Rays Injury Report Richie Palacios: 10 Day IL (Knee), Travis Jankowski: 10 Day IL (Groin), Hunter Bigge: 15 Day IL (Lat), Ha-Seong Kim: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Shane McClanahan: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Nathan Lavender: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Alex Faedo: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jonny Deluca: 60 Day IL (Shoulder) Rangers Injury Report Joc Pederson: 10 Day IL (Hand), Evan Carter: 10 Day IL (Quadricep), Kumar Rocker: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Nathan Eovaldi: 15 Day IL (Tricep), Chris Martin: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Cody Bradford: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Jon Gray: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Josh Sborz: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Washington Post
The Oilers are not limping into this Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers
EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid is fine, and coach Kris Knoblauch expects the best hockey player in the world to be good to go for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That is the most important thing for Edmonton gearing up for another championship series against the Florida Panthers. Also, acknowledging the notable absence of injured forward Zach Hyman , the Oilers are much closer to full strength in the rematch than they were a year ago and are not limping into the final this time around. 'We're very confident in the group that we have and the players that are available,' defenseman Darnell Nurse said Monday after a day off the ice for players. 'There's been guys that have stepped up in huge moments so far over the course of the playoffs, and I'm sure over the course of the series we'll need more of that.' A smoother journey through the playoffs helps. Edmonton won each of its past two series in five games apiece, and that has allowed for some much-needed rest along the way. 'Are we 100% healthy? No, not quite, obviously with Hyman being out, which will be a huge loss,' Knoblauch said Monday. 'But overall I would say we're in a little bit better position physically.' Reinforcements have also arrived just in time. Winger Evander Kane returned for Game 2 of the first round against Los Angeles after missing the entire regular season recovering from multiple surgeries to repair injuries that knocked him out of the Cup final a year ago when he needed injections just to be able to walk. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm got back in the lineup for the clinching game of the Western Conference final against Dallas after thinking several weeks earlier he wouldn't be able to play again until October. 'When doctors tell you something, they're usually right,' Ekholm said. 'Most people didn't think I was going to be in this position, so to be able to be part of this group, to be part of things on the ice and help this team win has been the goal the whole time and now that it's reality is awesome for me.' The Oilers did not win last year when they faced the Panthers, losing three in a row to start the series and clawing back to force a Game 7 only to experiencing a gut-wrenching defeat . They didn't have Kane healthy then to offset Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Florida's hard-nosed pressure. Now they do, with Kane and Corey Perry being counted on to make up for Hyman being out. 'We can play a physical brand of hockey,' Kane said. 'We can play an in-your-face brand of hockey. Whatever game you want, we can give you. We're going to play our game, and we're looking forward to that challenge.' The Panthers are also nearly 100% after some injury scares in the East final against Carolina to clutch scorer Sam Reinhart and vastly improved defenseman Niko Mikkola. Only depth forward A.J. Greer's status is any kind of a question going in. McDavid provided some intrigue over the weekend by leaving practice after five minutes and a chat with trainers. Knoblauch brushed that off, saying the three-time league MVP and reigning playoff MVP was fine and said McDavid would practice Tuesday in the final preparation for the series. Connor Brown is also expected to be back for Game 1 Wednesday night in Edmonton after missing the conclusion of the West final. 'He adds a lot of elements to our team,' Knoblauch said. 'Obviously on the penalty kill we need him a lot, his speed, his checking. He's scored and provided some nice offense throughout the season.' Having gotten at least a goal from 19 different players during this run, the Oilers also seem mentally sharper than last year, when they were new to this stage of the playoffs going up against an opponent that had been there before. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should keep driving the bus, but they don't need to do it all. 'This time around we have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup,' Kane said. 'If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys that can be a little bit more physical, we can be more physical. Unfortunately, we're going to have to use that depth and we're going to have to get the job done with it.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
