Unpredictable Panthers
The Florida Panthers barely got into the 2023 NHL playoffs and not one pundit prognosticator predicted they would advance, especially after falling behind 3-1 in the series versus the greatest regular season team in NHL History backstopped by a Vezina candidate, but they did.
In the second round, the Panthers held the high-flying Leafs to two goals in each of the five games and won all three overtime games as Florida advanced past Toronto to face the second-best regular season team in the next round.
Round three began with an emotionally and physically draining four-overtime contest that gave the visiting Panthers the series lead which they took full advantage of in a stunning sweep of Carolina as Florida played another offense-smothering series where the Hurricanes averaged two goals per game.
What the Florida Panthers can become by winning Lord Stanley’s silver chalice is no less than “the greatest road team in Stanley Cup History”…if they win.
Buffalo Winter 