This Penguins' Game May Have Altered History For The Florida Panthers
Apr 11, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; aChicago Blackhawks center Tyler Johnson (90) collides with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) after Johnson scored a goal against the Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Chicago won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
On Tuesday, the Florida Panthers became back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 at home, 5-1.
Not only was it Florida's second-straight Cup win, but it was also their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 before besting the Oilers in back-to-back Cup years, and - given that they handily beat a very good Edmonton team in six games despite partaking in their third-straight Final - they may not show any signs of slowing down.
Advertisement
But this near-dynastic force, in a way, all started with a loss in the spring of 2023 by a different NHL team.
No, Florida isn't where they are because of a singular notch in the "L" column by the Pittsburgh Penguins. But, had Pittsburgh won this one game, a lot may have changed for Florida that could have altered their destiny.
On Apr. 11, 2023 - in the penultimate game to their regular season - the Penguins were set to square off against the lowly, rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks on home ice. In order to end up clinching a playoff spot, Pittsburgh simply needed to beat Chicago, one of the league's worst teams.
And they did not succeed.
Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick?
Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick? It has been rumored that the
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Chicago went up, 1-0, approaching the midway point of the second period on a goal by defenseman Connor Murphy. Then, a little more than five minutes into the third, Penguins veteran forward Evgeni Malkin scored a power play goal to even the score.
But - five minutes later - Pittsburgh was dealt a double-gut punch. Just past the 10-minute mark of the final frame, Buddy Robinson and Andreas Athanasiou scored back-to-back within 26 seconds to put the Hawks up, 3-1, pretty much sealing the deal. Pittsburgh forward Danton Heinen scored sandwiched between two Chicago empty-net goals by Tyler Johnson and Mackenzie Entwistle, but it was not enough.
Pittsburgh was dealt a course-changing loss, as it, ultimately, led them to miss the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. They also lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime, 3-2, a few days later, but even if they won that game, the Penguins would have missed.
Advertisement
And the team that squeaked into the postseason instead? The Florida Panthers.
Like Pittsburgh Before Them, The Florida Panthers Are Reinventing The Wheel
Like Pittsburgh Before Them, The Florida Panthers Are Reinventing The Wheel Anyone who has been invested in the National Hockey League over the years knows that, as the seasons pile on, the game evolves.
In the 2021-22 season, the Panthers won the President's Trophy as the best team in the league, but they were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning and made a shocking coaching change in the aftermath, hiring Paul Maurice and canning Andrew Brunette.
They also shook up their roster in the offseason of 2022, acquiring and then extending Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames in exchange for star forward Jonathan Huberdeau and top-four defenseman Mackenzie Weegar.
Advertisement
There were a sequence of moves in the following years that made them what they are. But, had they missed the playoffs in 2023 after a President's Trophy-winning season - all because the Penguins beat the lowly Blackhawks - it stands to reason that Florida GM Bill Zito may have made some more impulse moves to shake things up after a near-miss.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Maybe they would have fired Maurice. Maybe they never go out and get veterans like Brad Marchand, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Seth Jones. There's no telling how their timeline and their roster management would have played out had the Penguins won that game against Chicago.
Every ounce of credit goes to Zito and the Panthers for becoming the machine they are today. More than likely, it was bound to happen eventually, anyway, regardless of what happened in terms of the 2023 postseason.
Advertisement
But the Penguins inadvertently opened the door of opportunity for the Panthers to begin their run at three straight Final appearances when they lost, perhaps, one of the most winnable "must-win" games in franchise history.
As a result, the Penguins became a cellar dwellar. And the Panthers became a monster.
Amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly, the Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions
Amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly, the Florida Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup Champions.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Featured image credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are a winning pair on date night at Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce looked like quite the power couple as they were spotted on a date night at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. The pair was seen holding hands as they arrived at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on Thursday night to watch the Edmonton Oilers take on the Florida Panthers for the coveted trophy. The pop star, 35, looked stylish in an Area Crystal Trim Track Jacket ($995) paired with the matching Crystal Trim Track Shorts ($595). She completed the look with the Prada's Buffalo Neoprene Lace Up Chelsea Ankle Boots, which are currently sold out. Meanwhile Kelce, 35, sported a red long-sleeved top and matching shorts. He finished off his look with a pair of red-and-white sneakers and a baseball cap. Once seated, the lovebirds looked cozy as they were shown on the TV broadcast footage chatting while Kelce showed the 'Cruel Summer' singer something on his phone. Swift sipped on a drink with a straw. At one point, the A-list couple stood up to cheer on the game. They beamed while applauding alongside other spectators. Swift and Kelce have been spending time together in Florida while the tight end rents a $20 million mansion in the Sunshine State to prepare for the forthcoming 2025-26 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs star reportedly snagged the Boca Raton property in April, bringing along his personal chef and his luxurious car collection. Last month, he went viral when he was seen shirtless shortly after wrapping up an intense workout. Swift and Kelce were first spotted in Florida together on a date night at Harry's in West Palm Beach on May 23. At the time, eyewitnesses caught them getting cozy in a booth. They were also photographed holding hands after dining at Buccan restaurant earlier this month.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Washington minority owner Fred Smith dies at 80
Fred Smith, a towering figure in American business, has died. He was 80. While in most contexts he will be remembered first and foremost as the founder of FedEx, Smith had a significant impact on the NFL. Advertisement He was the father of former Falcons coach and current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Fred Smith also was a long-time minority owner of the Washington Commanders, and FedEx for many years held the naming rights to the stadium where the team plays. Beyond his company expressly requesting that the team abandon its former nickname in July 2020, Smith's efforts to extricate himself from the team placed significant pressure on former principal owner Daniel Snyder. Along with Robert Rothman and Dwight Schar, Smith worked to find a way out of their partnership with Snyder, culminating in Snyder buying their stakes in the franchise in early 2021. The unrest sparked by Smith and the other minority partners contributed to the focus on the business activities of the franchise as led by Snyder. There is an unmistakable link between the Smith/Rothman/Schar situation and the ultimate ouster of Snyder in 2023. Smith first acquired his interest in the team in 2003. He had attempted to secure an expansion franchise in Memphis in the 1990s, when the Panthers and Jaguars joined the NFL. With Elvis Presley's estate involved in the bid, the team would have been known as the Memphis Hound Dogs.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New York Yankees veteran reveals bizarre internal thinking team has when evaluating hitters
New York Yankees veteran Clint Frazier recently revealed a very odd analytics-driven approach the team has when it comes to how they view hitters on their roster. The influence of analytics on baseball has never been stronger. It started with the then-Oakland Athletics in the early 2000s and has expanded across the league to where many clubs base roster and in-game decisions strictly on data. And to the chagrin of some New York fans, Yankees general manager is a child of the analytics age. Advertisement Many around the team think he is the one really pulling the strings on a nightly basis. And manager Aaron Boone is just his avatar on the field. However, the impact analytics has on the franchise goes much deeper than that. Even in how they evaluate their hitters. And this week, former Yankee outfielder Clint Frazier revealed one bizarre example of it. 'I remember being told by a specific person in the analytics department they didn't believe in players getting hot,' Frazier said this week on the 'Foul Territory' podcast. 'That was their way of saying, for instance, I could be 55 for 55, and they would be like, he's not hot. He's going to cool down. They believed you were what you were. 'And in my mind, that's not using your eyes. This guy's on a scorcher right now. You've gotta run with the hot bat. I do feel sometimes they hired a few too many rocket scientist to try and make the lineup. Instead of a former player or a guy who has more experience writing the lineup.' Advertisement Frazier played with New York from 2017 to 2021. So it is unclear if they still have this sort of opinion on evaluations. However, this is the same franchise that brought in a scientist to develop torpedo bats for their less successful hitters this season. Either way, it is a worrisome outlook on the lack of feel for the game that is in the current Yankees management system. More New York Yankees news and rumors: Related Headlines
