Repeat Performance: Florida Panthers Clinch Second Consecutive Stanley Cup Win over Edmonton Oilers
Repeat victory: Carolina Panthers claim yet another Stanley Cup title - A Recurring Victory for the Panthers: Stanley Cup triumph repeats in Draisaitl's presence
Nico Sturm held the Stanley Cup high above his head as the last player standing for the Florida Panthers, stamping a commanding 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in a season trophy decider. The win marks a historic repeat for the German national player, who secured not one, but two career wins with the most prestigious title in hockey. His continental counterpart, Leon Draisaitl, once again finds himself on the wrong side of history, with the Oilers falling short yet again against the Panthers, this time on the brink of a 7-game series with only six played.
"I'm fucked. We didn't win, and that's all that matters. We gambled, we lost, and here we are, struggling to keep our chins up," Draisaitl admitted after the final defeat, adding, "We didn't score enough goals, and they somehow shut us down every time. Their fucking D just steps up every fucking time.”
Draisaitl's slump
Despite putting up impressive numbers, Draisaitl had a night to forget on Tuesday, failing to register a single shot on the Panthers' net. Teammate Connor McDavid also struggled to make an impact, with Sam Reinhart scoring a hat-trick for the Panthers and cementing his spot as the hero of the night.
“It's a motherfucking bummer. I mean, we know it's not easy to bounce back. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it doesn't. But we gave it our all, and the Panthers were just better,” Reinhart said.
Comparing the heartbreak of 2024 to the bitter pill in 2025, Reinhart marked this year's series as having ended earlier than the previous year, but the anguish was still evident in the Panthers' arena. After four games, the teams were locked at 2-2, but the Panthers stepped up their game, securing victory in Edmonton and closing out the series at home in the first opportunity.
"They are just a damn good fucking team. We can bring them to the brink, but we can't fucking close it out. They deserve this win," McDavid said, conceding defeat.
Panthers take the lead early and dominate the Ice
Three days after their hard-fought victory in Edmonton, the Panthers led 2-0 after the first period, with Reinhart scoring the opening goal less than five minutes into the game. Matthew Tkachuk added the second with just 47 seconds left in the period, taking advantage of a mistake by Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner. A lack of communication between Skinner and his defense allowed Reinhart to grab a brace early on. The Panthers played flawlessly for the remainder of the game, challenging the Oilers at every opportunity. The Panthers added to their lead when the Oilers pulled their goalie with seven minutes left, attempting to score with six skaters; Reinhart scored into the empty net for a 4-0 lead, effectively sealing the game. Although Panthers forward Vasili Podkolzin scored a consolation goal late in the game, it was too little, too late for the Oilers.
Sam Bennett was named the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs, thanks in part to his impressive performances throughout the postseason. Overall, he scored 15 goals and assisted on seven more for the Panthers.
- Leon Draisaitl
- Florida Panthers
- Edmonton
- Edmonton Oilers
- Panther
- Florida
- NHL
- Nico Sturm
- Stanley Cup
- Sunrise
- Connor McDavid
- Germany
- Ice
Leon Draisaitl, a German national player, once again faced defeat as the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final, marking the Panthers' second consecutive win. Nico Sturm, the last man standing for the Panthers, held the Stanley Cup high above his head, securing not just one, but two career wins with the most prestigious title in the NHL.
