Latest news with #AntonLundell
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers will face Edmonton Oilers in Stanley Cup Final rematch
The 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the series so nice we're playing it twice. That's the result of the two conference finals that ended over the past couple evenings. First, it was Florida punching their ticket to the Final with a 5-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night in Raleigh. Advertisement Then on Thursday, the Oilers completed their five-game series win over the Dallas Stars with a 6-3 victory at American Airlines Center. As if last season's seven-game marathon wasn't entertaining enough, now we get to do it all again, and it's very possible that both teams are even better this year than they were in 2024. During the regular season, the Panthers and Oilers met twice, once in the other's barn. Florida won both games, a pair of exciting, one-goal affairs. The first meeting was in Edmonton back in December, a 6-5 Panthers win, and then again in Sunrise in late February by a final score of 4-3. Advertisement In the first game, Florida came back from a 4-2 second period deficit, scoring three goals in the third while breaking a pair of ties to earn the two points. There was no comeback needed when the two Finalists met in South Florida a couple months later, as Florida scored first and never trailed, again outscoring the Oilers in the third period en route to the win. Leading the Panthers in points during the two games against Edmonton was Anton Lundell, with a goal and four assist. Each of Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad each logged three points against the Oilers: Verhaeghe scored twice and Reinhart once, while all of Ekblad's points were assists. Advertisement Looking at how each team has done so far during the postseason, it's no big surprised they are facing each other again. The Cats and Oilers are the two highest scoring teams in the postseason, with Edmonton averaging 3.93 goals per game and Florida putting up 3.88. Defensively, Florida has been the stingiest team in the playoffs, allowing just 2.29 goals per game. Edmonton isn't far behind, giving up 2.80. The power plays for each team are ranked 1-2, with the Oilers executing at a 29.0% success rate and the Panthers holding a respectable 23.2%. Florida's penalty kill is now the top unit in the playoffs, having successfully wiped-out 87.9 percent of their opponents power plays. Advertisement Edmonton's kill hasn't been nearly as effective, operating at a 66.7% success rate. We'll see how all this plays out when the Stanley Cup Final begins next week. Game 1 is set for Wednesday, June 4 in Edmonton. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Brad Marchand Admits This After Panthers' Series-Clinching Win Laid back celebration following Eastern Conference Final shows Panthers maturity, understanding of bigger goal to reach Why Paul Maurice Had Postgame Exchange With Rod Brind'Amour Paul Maurice Gives Promising Injury Update On Panthers Forward Three takeaways: Panthers win exciting Game 5, special teams play big role Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends against Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) during the third period in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
For Panthers, clinching a 3rd consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final didn't lead to celebrating
The Florida Panthers pose with the Prince of Wales trophy after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the finals at the end of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) Florida Panthers fans cheer after the team defeated the Carolina Hurricanes at the end of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. The Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup finals. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates his goal with center Brad Marchand, top right, and left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) while Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and center Sebastian Aho (20) react during the second period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates his goal with center Brad Marchand, top right, and left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) while Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and center Sebastian Aho (20) react during the second period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) The Florida Panthers pose with the Prince of Wales trophy after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes to advance to the finals at the end of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) Florida Panthers fans cheer after the team defeated the Carolina Hurricanes at the end of Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. The Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup finals. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) celebrates his goal with center Brad Marchand, top right, and left wing Jonah Gadjovich (12) while Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and center Sebastian Aho (20) react during the second period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Bill Zito didn't do any significant celebrating after the Florida Panthers clinched their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. He got some food and went back to work. At this point, no one around the team would expect anything different. Advertisement The franchise that could not win a playoff series for a quarter-century now is in the midst of a back-to-back-to-back run to the NHL's championship round. Florida won 25 playoff games in its first 28 seasons combined; the Panthers have won 41 playoff games — and counting — in their most recent three seasons. The novelty of winning at this time of year hasn't worn off, but the Panthers have simply become used to it now. The main thing — the Cup — is the main thing. That's why after the most recent win, beating Carolina on Wednesday night to finish off the Eastern Conference title in five games, there were no helmets being thrown in the air, no raucous beer-spraying locker room scene, no thick wafts of cigar smoke. A few handshakes, something to eat, and that was it. 'I think everybody likes it right when people are kind to you and say things that are nice," Zito, the team's hockey operations president and general manager, said before the Panthers flew home from Carolina on Thursday. "But we learned. The journey isn't over and there's work to do and we have to be focused on that and keep your eye on the goal. Don't let success get in your way.' To be fair, for the Panthers, this is unprecedented levels of success. Advertisement They have now played 11 playoff series since the start of the 2023 postseason — their first one with Matthew Tkachuk in a Florida sweater. They have won 10 of those series, only falling in the 2023 final to Vegas. They're 41-21 in playoff games under coach Paul Maurice and actually have a better road record in those games (23-10) than they do at home (18-11). 'I didn't even think about it," Tkachuk said after the Carolina series ended. "Just reacted how I reacted. I mean, I think it was different a few years ago. I remember a few years ago it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point. I know we talked about it last year. It's part of the journey. And same way with this year. It's all business, and we've got a bigger goal in mind.' When the East title series ended, Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour paid the Panthers — who won their first Cup last season — the ultimate compliment. "They're the standard now," Brind'Amour said. Advertisement It has been a long time since the league has seen a run like this. Tampa Bay made three straight finals from 2020 through 2022 (with two of those seasons shortened by COVID), but no team — until now — has navigated three consecutive full regular seasons and gotten to the Stanley Cup Final in each of those years since Edmonton from 1983 through 1985. By the time this year's title series is over, the Panthers will have played more games in a three-year span than any team in NHL history. It's an accomplishment, for certain. Zito wasn't thinking about any of that after the Carolina series. There were travel plans to put together, reports to look at, somewhere between four and seven more games left in this season to think about. 'I don't think that the elation or the appreciation for the moment diminishes," Zito said. "I think perhaps the way it manifests itself, it's just channeled differently. ... That level of respect and appreciation for where you are, in tandem with the hunger, you want to do it again. You want to do it again. What can we start doing now? Don't stop. Don't get content. And those guys, they woke up with 100 texts each from everyone telling them how great they are. Everyone did. And it's not over.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Panthers' Eetu Luostarinen ejected for hit driving Hurricanes' Jackson Blake head-first into boards
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen received a game misconduct and a five-minute major for boarding Carolina's Jackson Blake in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night. The hit occurred with 3:01 remaining in the first period and the Panthers up 1-0 on the Hurricanes. Florida is up 2-0 in the series. Luostarinen and Blake were both trying to retrieve a puck that had been flipped behind Carolina's net. A split second before the contact, Blake made a quick stop below the goal line. Luostarinen skated through Blake and pushed him, head-first, into the boards. Eetu Luostarinen has been given a 5-minute major and game misconduct for this hit on Jackson Blake — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 25, 2025 Blake left the game but returned for the start of the second period. Florida killed the first 3:01 of the penalty before the intermission. Luostarinen has been a key piece for Florida throughout the playoffs as the left wing on an effective third line with center Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand. Blake, a 21-year-old rookie, has moved up and down Carolina's lineup and started Saturday's game on the fourth line. He scored 17 goals and 34 points during the regular season and has three goals and six points in 12 playoff games. (Photo of Eetu Luostarinen and Jackson Blake: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Addition of Brad Marchand to Panthers' third line has set trio ablaze during Stanley Cup Playoffs
It's pretty remarkable how strong and consistent the Florida Panthers' third line has been during the postseason. Adding veteran Brad Marchand to the Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen pair has been the secret sauce that has made the unit sing. "It's been awesome getting to know him, he's a great guy," Lundell said of Marchand. "He has so much experience that he brings to the table, you can tell he's been a captain, and he acts like a captain. He's been a huge add for our group." We've seen the young Finns flourish with a skilled winger added to the line – Sam Reinhart and Vladimir Tarasenko come to mind – but Marchand has taken the group to new heights. "He stays calm, he knows how to motivate us," said Lundell. "At the same time, it's so fun to watch him, how he battles, his energy. He talks nonstop." Through 12 playoff games, the trio has combined for 10 goals and 34 points, racking up 55 shots and combining for a ridiculous plus-31 on-ice rating. Looking at the advanced metrics, when on the ice together at even strength, they are +14 in scoring chances, +8 in high danger scoring chances and have scored eight high danger goals while allowing none. 'There's a Brad Marchand effect there,' said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. 'He's effected those guys in such a positive way about thinking about the game and the small area plays. I felt those two young guys had it in them, but the role that I gave them stunted them. I don't want to let them do that, every puck deep, all that stuff, on and above it, get it deep, put the puck at the net. It's not a lot of creativity in the way that I coach, right? It's pretty simple. Brad comes in says, 'Hey, we can do all those things, but we can also make some plays around here, fellas.' And so it starts in practice, right? They start close supporting small area plays, and there's some hands there. Lundell, I think we knew, because he scored 18 as a rookie, but Eetu, he's got some pretty good hands.' It doesn't matter which end of the ice they're playing in. Clearly, there is some serious chemistry between these three. "Our line is just trying to work hard and be honest, and right now we're getting rewarded," said Luostarinen. "It feels nice." The interesting thing about Marchand, the guy known for toeing the line and getting under players' skin, meshing with the two quiet young Finns is that Marchand has been an extremely positive influence and teammate for them. 'It's always positive,' Maurice said of Marchand. 'It's always, 'Stay in there, hang in there, that was great.' So we get these two young guys, especially Lundell, playing (with a guy) bordering on legendary status at this point, and he's pumping their tires, and he's just like every day excited. It's his personality that I didn't know. He's moved into the Matthew Tkachuk, where you hate them – that's a horrible word, but it's close – and then they get here and you go, you're the exact opposite person that I thought you were. He's just a wonderful human being.' We'll see if Marchand and his new friends can keep it going as they begin the conference final on Tuesday night in Raleigh. Stay tuned. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Experience shines through for Panthers, Game 7 was tighter than score indicates Brad Marchand Makes Hilarious Maple Leafs Joke After Game 7 Taking a moment to appreciate how far Florida Panthers have come Panthers play excellent Game 7 in Toronto, advance to conference final Brad Marchand Shares Excitement For Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs Photo caption: May 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during overtime in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Toronto Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Maple Leafs eager for Game 7 on Sunday night: 'It never gets old'
Max Pacioretty of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers fight during the first period in Game 6 of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 16, 2025 in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Carmen Mandato / Getty Images This is what the Maple Leafs have been working toward all season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Game 7, home ice, win or spend the next several months contemplating what could have been. A victory against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena in the best-of-seven series and the Leafs will be right back at it on Tuesday at home, squaring off against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. Losing isn't an option. 'The nerves are there, but that's what you want,' defenceman Morgan Rielly said after the morning skate. 'That's what you train for during the off season. That's what you tell yourself you're training for, at least, the opportunity to play in the playoffs and playing in these important games that mean the most. 'We're here now. You want to make the most of it.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Following speculation about the status of winger Matthew Knies after he was hurt in a collision with Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola in Game 6, Leafs coach Craig Berube confirmed that Knies will be in the lineup. 'He's good to go,' Berube said. 'I anticipate using him (as he normally would). 'This time of year, everybody is banged up. You're banged up, you're hurt, and there's a lot of that with a lot of teams and a lot of players. 'But this time of year, you play through it, right? It's too important not to.' At the morning skate, Knies was in his usual spot on the top line with captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and did some work with the Leafs' top power-play unit as well. The Leafs have a 12-15 record in Game 7s in franchise history. The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are 3-1 in Game 7s. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A Leafs victory will put them in the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2002, when they lost to Carolina in six games. Berube wants his players to take advantage of the atmosphere in the building. Just don't cross a line. 'It's excitement for our group playing at home, in front of our crowd, passionate crowd, passionate fans, passionate city,' Berube said. 'But don't get caught up in it. Do what you did in Game 6 (in a 2-0 win in Florida on Friday). 'We know what to expect from Florida, and that's a great team. Simplify your game. Everybody's nervous a little bit. You have to get the nerves out on the first couple shifts. Play direct, be direct, and rely on your teammates. And that's who you're playing for. Your teammates.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Marner and Tavares head a group of Leafs who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, one that includes forwards Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz, defenceman Jani Hakanpaa and goalie Matt Murray. None, no matter their importance for the Leafs, wants to think about the season ending on Sunday night. It's the sixth Game 7 for the trio of Marner, Matthews and Nylander. Matthews has three assists in Game 7s; Marner has two. Nylander has two goals and two assists. The Leafs have won none of those games. 'Just feels like it's a regular game day,' Nylander said. 'Hope it stays like that.' Tavares, not that we would expect anything else, was taking nothing for granted. 'Never gets old,' Tavares said. 'Playing at this level, whether it's stepping on the ice in preseason, or a Game 7 like tonight, it's got the same excitement and feeling as you did as a kid, to want to play in the NHL and play in these types of games, in these types of moments. 'You try to enjoy every part of it, but also focus on the things that you have to do throughout the day to get ready to play and then go out there and give it your all.' tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Sports Sunshine Girls World
