Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 18, 2025 – MARCHAND MUSTERS THREE POINTS AS PANTHERS ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE FINALS

Brad Marchand (1-2—3) factored on three of Florida’s six goals, including the series-clinching tally by Eetu Luostarinen, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves to help the Panthers defeat the Maple Leafs in Game 7 to complete their series comeback and advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third straight year. Florida became the sixth reigning Stanley Cup champions to reach the final four since 2010.

• Marchand won his fifth career Game 7 against the Maple Leafs – four of which came as a member of the Bruins – and became the first player in NHL history to defeat one franchise in at least that many winner-take-all games.
• Marchand (4-6—10 in 13 GP) surpassed Alex Ovechkin (4-4—8 in 12 GP) for the most points in Game 7s among active players and tied Paul Stastny (5-5—10 in 6 GP) as well as Jari Kurri (5-5—10 in 7 GP) for the 10th most in NHL history. His six assists in Game 7s are also tied for the 10th most in League history, with Evgeni Malkin (0-6—6 in 8 GP) being the only active player with that many.
• Bobrovsky became the 10th goaltender in NHL history to win each of his first three career Game 7s (also 2023 R1 & 2024 SCF) and just the second active, following Jonathan Quick (4 GP: 2013 CSF, 2014 R1, 2014 R2 & 2014 CF).
• Florida became the seventh reigning Stanley Cup champion in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to win a best-of-seven playoff round after facing a 2-0 series deficit, joining the Lightning (2022 CF), Blackhawks (2014 R1), Kings (2013 CQF), Penguins (1992 DSF), Canadiens (1987 DF) and Islanders (1984 CF).
• The Panthers and Hurricanes will meet in the postseason for the second time following the 2023 Conference Finals, which saw Florida win in four games. It marks the third time in the past 25 years that the first two or more playoff meetings between two teams came in the round before the final, following the Stars and Golden Knights (2023 & 2020) as well as the Lightning and Rangers (2022 & 2015).

CONFERENCE FINALS LOCKED IN AFTER EXCITING SECOND ROUND
The final four teams are officially locked in for the Conference Finals after a thrilling Second Round concluded with dramatic finishes throughout the four series – two wins in overtime (EDM & DAL), one with less than two minutes into the third period (CAR) and one in Game 7 (FLA). The Eastern Conference Final begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET with the Hurricanes hosting the Panthers in Game 1 while the Western Conference Final opens Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET with the Stars hosting the Oilers at American Airlines Center.

• With the Panthers, Oilers and Stars returning to the Conference Finals again this year, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the third in more than 45 years to feature three or more teams clinch consecutive final-four berths. The others: 2021 (TBL, VGK & NYI) and 1992 (BOS, PIT & EDM).
• The Conference Finals will feature Florida and Dallas for the third straight year, marking the second time under the 16-team format (since 1980) that two teams have simultaneous streaks of three-plus final-four appearances (also 1992: BOS & EDM).