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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
As stage gets bigger, Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky stays grounded eyeing Stanley Cup repeat
Sergei Bobrovsky knows what's ahead of him and the Florida Panthers. They're about to play in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final with a chance to repeat as champions after winning it all for the first time last year. It's the biggest stage of the NHL season. Bobrovsky also knows that, at its core, what's ahead is just another game. That's how Bobrovsky operates. After 15 NHL seasons, including a lot of good but also its share of rough times, the goaltender has become a creature of living in the moment. He can't let what happened in the past affect him. He can't let what might happen creep into his mind. That mentality, he and the Panthers hope, will work to their advantage when Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rogers Place as a rematch of last season's Cup Final gets underway. 'You enjoy the moment and savor the moment,' Bobrovsky said. 'You're not trying to cut yourself off thinking about what's ahead or what's happened in the past. You're just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. It's a great opportunity. There's only two teams left, and we're one of them and we have opportunity to win it all. It's an exciting time, and I want to enjoy every bit of it.' Bobrovsky has had an exciting postseason — and his teammates certainly have enjoyed it. Through the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Bobrovsky has a 2.11 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He has three shutouts in 17 games — one in each round — and has held opponents to two goals or fewer in 11 of those 17 games. His 6.04 goals save above average according to Natural Stat Trick are the most among all goals this postseason. 'There's not much that can get him off his game,' defenseman Dmitry Kulikov said. 'He can have an off day for him, which is a pretty good day for a good goalie in the NHL, but he always bounces back because he has this foundation — he has his routine every day that he does. And when he's [in] net, we feel very, very confident.' Especially since they know the work he puts in to get ready for each game. Bobrovsky has a regimented plan of attack for every day. After being in the league as long as he has and having the success he has — two Vezina Trophies, finalist for a third, top-10 in the NHL in goaltender wins and finally a Stanley Cup champion — Bobrovsky and only Bobrovsky truly understands what he needs to be ready. And his teammates marvel at it. 'He knows exactly what his body needs,' forward Carter Verhaeghe said. 'He's so dialed in. If there's a pro that you want to emulate, it's him. But his routines aren't like any other. I've seen Bobby do it ever since I've been here. It's special. He's special.' It has the Panthers on the cusp of doing something special by repeating as Stanley Cup champions if they can knock of the Oilers in the Cup Finals again. That's the moment the Panthers are in — and the moment Brobrovsky is prioritizing. 'I guess it's experience,' Bobrovsky said. 'I've been around for a little bit, and I know how tough it is to get into that stage. It has to be lots of things coming together. I just want to be thankful and appreciate and be humble about the opportunity.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Jake Walman might be the 'Stanley Cup push' Edmonton Oilers need
Jake Walman (via Getty Images) With the Edmonton Oilers set for a Stanley Cup Final rematch versus the Florida Panthers, attention has turned to a quiet but possibly season-altering strategic adjustment—the emergence of defenseman Jake Walman. His capacity to lead, transition and shut down goals has given the Edmonton Oilers an advantage it did not have in its last playoffs. The 29-year-old has been an unexpected pillar of the team's performance in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. Jake Walman and Edmonton Oilers' rebuilt defense against Florida Panthers Jake Walman Discusses Connor McDavid Leadership, Playing Sharks Teammates & LOUD Oilers Fans The Edmonton Oilers have been in this situation before when they overcame a 3-0 deficit against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final before being defeated in Game 7 last season. Now, they're back with a healthier defensive group and new additions ready to contribute. Jake Walman, whose contributions have been key, leads the team. By Natural Stat Trick's measure, the Jake Walman-John Klingberg tandem has a phenomenal 1.44 goals against per 60 minutes at even strength. That's not only the best on the team but also a significant step up from the team's messy defensive system in 2024. Florida is a different challenge. But Edmonton's advancements in puck management give them an air of optimism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like पुरानी लक्जरी घड़ियों की ऑनलाइन कीमतें आपको आश्चर्यचकित कर सकती हैं। Luxury Watches For Sale | Search Ads अभी खरीदें Undo Jake Walman's composure in pressure situations and John Klingberg's sense of attack have provided Edmonton breakout opportunities that weren't available a year prior. Mattias Ekholm's return to the lineup further strengthens the top-four rotation. The Edmonton Oilers' makeover didn't happen overnight. Doomed efforts at constructing a puck-movement defense during the regimes of Peter Chiarelli and Ken Holland put the franchise years behind. However, with GM Stan Bowman in charge- a more defined plan has crystallized. Also read: 'We are going to the finals baby': Connor McDavid's wife Lauren Kyle reacts to Oilers' Game 5 win Jake Walman isn't exactly a name on everyone's lips yet, but his inclusion in the Edmonton Oilers' backline has remolded the identity of the team at the ideal moment. As they meet the physically imposing Florida Panthers again in the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton's new defensive depth may become the difference. Whether it will be enough to get the Stanley Cup to Canada is unknown, but the Oilers are certainly better suited this time.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Juuso Parssinen of Rangers scores fancy goal for Finland at World Championships
Juuso Parssinen continues to make a positive impression and play a big role for Finland at the 2025 World Hockey Championships. The New York Rangers forward added to his impressive play at the tournament Saturday when he scored a highlight-reel goal off the rush in a 2-1 win against Latvia. Parssinen made a slick between the legs play at high speed approaching the Latvia net early in the second period. He appeared to be trying to pass to an onrushing teammate, but caught a break when the puck hit the skate of a Latvian defenseman and deflected into the net to give Finland a 1-0 lead at 7:37 of the second period. That was Parsinnen's only shot on goal Saturday, but he made it count. He also won six of 10 face-offs and logged an even 10 minutes TOI. Advertisement The 24-year-old now has four points (three goals, one assist) in five games for Finland, which has won four of five. Parssinen's first two goals in the tournament were game-winners, and he's plus-6 so far. His goal Saturday is quickly becoming a go-to highlight on social media. But that's nothing new for Parssinen. He blew it up a couple years ago when he scored this between-the-legs beauty for the Nashville Predators in overtime against the Minnesota Wild. Related: 'Stock has definitely risen' on potential Rangers free-agent target Adam Gaudette Rangers intrigued with what they have in Juuso Parssinen Danny Wild-Imagn Images This is the potential the Rangers see in Parssinen, whom they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1 in the Ryan Lindgren trade. It's, in part, what led the Rangers to sign Parssinen to a two-year, $2.5 million contract a couple weeks ago. Advertisement Parssinen was actually scratched for more games (12) than he played (11) with the Rangers after the trade. When he was in the lineup, Parssinen skated in the bottom six, both at center and on the wing. He won 40.3 percent of his face-offs in limited opportunity. The Rangers had only a 28.57 percent expected goals share when Parssinen was on the ice 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick, and were out-chanced by a whopping 77-21 margin with him on the ice. But Parssinen came alive offensively late in the season, with five points (two goals, three assists) in his final three games. And he's carried that momentum into the World Championships. Can he bring it consistently? That's always been the question for the talented forward, who offers versatility with the ability to play center or on the wing. Even at the Worlds, it hasn't been all good. Parssinen was demolished at the face-off dot prior to Saturday's much better showing. Next season will give the Rangers a better idea if they have an extra depth forward on their hands or an emerging young talent ready to take the next step. Advertisement Related Headlines
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Resurrecting Mika Zibanejad's game is major Mike Sullivan challenge with Rangers
Though many New York Rangers fans might not buy it, the Mika Zibanejad they remember from two seasons ago is still out there. He's just a little far away at the moment. That's both a figurative and literal statement. Not only does Zibanejad seem far removed from the dynamic scorer who averaged better than a point per game from 2019-23, he's actually not nearby from a geographic standpoint. The forward is in Europe, playing for his native country and tournament host Sweden in the World Championships. Advertisement Yet that version of Zibanejad appears to be the same one that participated in the Four Nations Faceoff in February; and that should have the Rangers encouraged over the possibility that the 32-year-old has something left in the tank. With a highly-respected new coach known for getting the most out of accomplished veteran players now behind the Rangers bench, it's possible that Zibanejad's 15th NHL season might prove to be a clean slate and a fresh start for him on the way back to star status. Related: Why it's time for Rangers to trade Chris Kreider this offseason Mika Zibanejad has looked like his old self at Four Nations, World Championships Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Zibanejad endured what was likely the worst season of his career in 2024-25, recording 62 points – marking a second straight season of offensive decline after he piled up a career-high 91 in 2022-23. His overall game also deteriorated, as he went from an outstanding two-way player that was a plus-70 from 2021-24 to one that finished minus-22 last season – just shy of his career-worst minus-23 mark in 2017-18. Advertisement The eye test backed that up, as Zibanejad frequently struggled with defensive responsibilities as opponents often feasted offensively when he was on the ice. The Rangers were outscored 5v5 with Zibanejad on the ice 52-43 and they're expected goals share was 48.67 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. Zibanejad played so poorly that now-former coach Peter Laviolette moved him out of the middle and occasionally out of the top-six forward group, before he found a somewhat successful home at right wing on center J.T. Miller's line. Still, Zibanejad mostly looked like a shell of the all-around force he used to be. The 'old' Zibanejad, though, made an appearance for Tre Kronor in the inaugural Four Nations event. He looked quick and highly engaged in two games, scoring a goal when centering Sweden's top line before missing the contest due to an illness. Three months later, that guy has shown up again in an international competition. Zibanejad has four goals in six games — yes, one was an own goal by Latvia — to help power undefeated Sweden to the top of Group A at the Worlds, performing every bit like the No. 1 center he once was for the Rangers. Apparently, the skills are still there, which, to be fair, he did show down the stretch when he had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in the final six games of the Rangers season. Advertisement Skeptics – and there are deservedly plenty at this point after such a rough 2024-25 – would ask why Zibanejad is so invested and effective now, and wasn't for so much of the NHL season. That question is a fair one. To cite the Rangers' drama-filled season that included significant tensions with the front office over personnel moves and what seemed like obvious rebellion against Laviolette isn't an excuse for Zibanejad's lackluster play – which was hardly limited to him on the Blueshirts roster. Yet, he was the tone-setter, the one who's malaise hung like a dark cloud over the Rangers last season. There's no question, though, that the built-up acrimony played a role. Zibanejad confirmed it when he complained about how management handled personnel moves and 'communication' issues at breakup day. Reminding everyone in a separate interview that he has a no-move clause that he 'earned' and has no plans to leave didn't help his standing with general manager Chris Drury and owner James Dolan. You think the public display of extending Drury shortly after Zibanejad spoke out wasn't a sign by the owner that it's time for Zibanejad get in line and do what he's paid handsomely to do — and that's perform on the ice? Advertisement Even Zibanejad's biggest detractors, though, are probably going to have to grit their teeth and accept that he's not going anywhere. With five seasons remaining on a contract that carries an $8.5 million salary-cap hit and is essentially buyout-proof – along with the aforementioned no-move – Drury would have to perform some serious magic to trade Zibanejad. For his part, however, Zibanejad will have to accept that there's a new sheriff in town – one that, unlike his recent predecessors, almost certainly won't be departing after two seasons this time. Mike Sullivan is Drury's coaching white whale of sorts, now finally in the fold, in lockstep with his GM and expected to be here for the long haul after a 10-year run with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Plenty can be made of the turnover behind the bench during Drury's tenure, with the GM having hired his third coach in five years. Laviolette and Gerard Gallant, Drury's first hire, each lasted two seasons, both done in in part by losing the locker room, whether that was fully their fault or not. The difference this time? While Gallant and Laviolette were both accomplished – Gallant guided the Vegas Golden Knights to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final and captured the Jack Adams Award that season, while Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and is one of the winningest coaches in league history – neither was Drury's top choice to lead the Rangers. Advertisement Sullivan is exactly that, and the two-time Cup winner with the Penguins probably has as good a chance as anyone to heal the divisions and end the drama in the room and get Zibanejad – and others – back on track. Related: 'Stock has definitely risen' on potential Rangers free-agent target Adam Gaudette Mike Sullivan's role to bring best out of Mika Zibanejad with Rangers Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Sullivan faced a similar situation in Pittsburgh in December 2015, taking over an underachieving and drifting club that had just fired coach Mike Johnston. The team was 'kind of a mess,' according to then-Penguin Matt Cullen. 'When you're walking into a room with Sidney Crosby and [Evgeni] Malkin and [Kris] Letang and [Marc-Andre] Fleury, it's a long list of guys who have some big reputations,' Cullen said. 'He was super direct, and it didn't matter if you were Sid or a guy on the fourth line, the expectations were super clear. It was something guys really responded to.' Advertisement Sullivan's honest, one-size-fits-all approach proved to be perfect. The Penguins righted the ship and went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, and the next one as well. Now, the Rangers' roster doesn't contain four future Hall of Famers, so expecting a Stanley Cup run next season might be wholly unrealistic – especially from a group that showed so little investment in 2024-25. What Zibanejad and others should have realized upon Sullivan's hiring is that he isn't going anywhere. Having reportedly made the 57-year-old the highest-paid coach in NHL history at $6.5 million per year for five years, ownership made it clear that it's committed to leadership behind the bench – and not for two seasons this time. The question of whether the Rangers core veterans have effectively fired the last three coaches – Gallant's predecessor David Quinn being the other – isn't worth relitigating anymore. What matters now is whether Sullivan, armed with job security and an effective level of authority that Quinn, Gallant and Laviolette didn't possess – can get the current iteration of Zibanejad to return from his home country for training camp. 'It's probably not unlike what he walked into in Pittsburgh,' Cullen said of Sullivan's hiring in New York. 'A team that's awfully close to being really good, high expectations – it's a perfect scenario for him to come into. I can't think of a better coach and person to come in and lead the ship.' Advertisement A key decision Sullivan faces in the attempted resurrection of Zibanejad's game is how to use him. Under Gallant and especially Laviolette, Zibanejad became a matchup center, expected to shut down opposing top pivots, especially in the playoffs. He was good in that role, but Zibanejad's offense – and eventually, his all-around play and confidence – declined in tandem. Getting him back to the quick, freewheeling player who consistently attacked the net and exhibited a positive arrogance might end up having a lot to do with how Sullivan views Zibanejad's role. Whether his days at center are over remains to be seen. Perhaps, he'll be back on the wing riding shotgun with Miller. Advertisement Zibanejad's chances of turning back the clock under Sullivan will be among the most critical Rangers variable next season. If Zibanejad just required a reset and the 75- to 80-point player that once excelled in all three zones re-emerges, the Rangers will be a much different team than the one that crashed from the Presidents Trophy to missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024-25. Sullivan knew he'd be tasked with this significant undertaking when he accepted the job. It's also up to Zibanejad to be on board with what the new coach is selling – and to buy into a partnership with Sullivan. After all, it's highly unlikely that either person will be departing anytime soon. Related Headlines
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
With Florida set for ‘another great showdown' with Carolina, Tkachuk insists he feels ‘great'
Matthew Tkachuk had his fair share of big moments the last time the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes met in the Eastern Conference final. The Panthers' star winger, wrapping up his first season with his new team after the blockbuster trade a summer earlier sent him to Florida from the Calgary Flames, put up a Herculean effort in the series — a four-game Panthers sweep — on the way to reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Five points, four goals, three game-winning goals — one in quadruple overtime in Game 1, one in overtime in Game 2 and one in the final five seconds of regulation in the series-clinching Game 4, plus the primary assist on the game-winning goal in Game 3 for good measure. 'I remember being really tired after the first one,'' Tkachuk said Monday. 'The way I scored, and looked, the first thing I saw was the door. So I left. In Game 2, the way I was going, the door was right there. It was just 'let's get out of here.' We kind of stole Game 2. We played well, but, let's get out of here fast.'' Two years later, the rematch is here, and Tkachuk and the Panthers know just what type of challenge they're going to be facing in the Hurricanes. 'I don't think anybody really enjoys playing Carolina,' Tkachuk said. 'Very tough team to play against, and they make it hard on you every game. There were good memories here in this building a couple years ago, and that whole series for us. But it's all back to zeros now. It's a new year, new series. ... It's going to make for another great showdown.' Tkachuk hasn't had as many of those big moments this postseason. He's been battling through an apparent groin injury he sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off in mid-February. He has nine points through Florida's first two rounds, but hasn't scored a goal since Game 3 of the opening round against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 'I honestly feel great,' Tkachuk said. 'I'm expecting to just continue to get better. The longer this goes, the better you feel. So hopefully we keep this going for a while.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice limited Tkachuk early in the postseason as he returned to game action after a more than a two-month layoff. But in the second-round series against Toronto, Tkachuk was on the ice for an average of 18:40 per game — slightly above his season average of 18:14. He had four assists in the seven-game series and held his own defensively. According to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick, the Panthers controlled 66.32% of shot attempts and had a 49-30 edge in scoring chances despite being outscored 5-4 when Tkachuk was on the ice at 5-on-5. His penchant physicality and grit was on full display, too, with 22 hits and and being aggressive in front of the net to set up his teammates to make plays. 'He brings a lot to the table, even when he's not scoring or getting points,' Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said. 'He's being physical. He's a bench presence. He's a little thorn in the other team's side. So we appreciate everything he does.' Added Maurice: 'I thought he was considerably behind it in the Tampa series. I mean, I played him 12 minutes the first night, and a lot of that was power play. And then he just kind of built and built, and now it's back up close to 20 and I don't think about it. He's back. ... We don't talk about his minutes. So he's had a really big impact.'
