The Panthers continued their stunning run through the Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, successfully sweeping the Hurricanes courtesy of more late-game heroics from superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk.
Tkachuk cemented his place in Florida hockey lore, having scored three game-winning goals in the series, including one on Wednesday night with less than five seconds remaining in regulation.
The four-game sweep clinched the Panthers their first Stanley Cup Final berth in 27 years. Their feat is even more impressive considering their path to the Final after sneaking into the postseason as the No. 8 seed in the East.
Since then, the Panthers have defeated the Bruins, who were fresh off setting an NHL record for most wins and points in a single season, a loaded Maple Leafs squad, and the No. 2 seed Hurricanes.
NHL Twitter was in awe over the performance of Tkachuk and the Panthers, who are four wins away from one of the most improbable Stanley Cup Final victories in recent memory.
MATTHEW TKACHUK GIVES THE PANTHERS THE LEAD WITH 4 SECONDS LEFT 🚨
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 25, 2023
(🎥: @BR_OpenIce)pic.twitter.com/19kEzJDx3G
How can you not be romantic about Hockey?
— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) May 25, 2023
Nobody is more HIM than Matthew Tkachuk‼️pic.twitter.com/xPzpo7AJKY
Matthew Tkachuk with one of the clutchest best of seven series I've seen in a while, any sport. Incredible
— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 25, 2023
WHY NOT US pic.twitter.com/zrcJsVyZdY
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 25, 2023
Sir, the Florida panthers have touched the trophy pic.twitter.com/WywjoJyR1N
— heatdaddy (@heatdaddy69420) May 25, 2023
The Panthers heating up just in time to barely squeeze into the playoffs and Bobrovsky heating up just in time to come back against the Bruins and demolish the Leafs & Hurricanes is the perfect embodiment of "anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs."
— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) May 25, 2023
What a run, man.
Came back down 3-1 against Bruins a team with the most win in a single season in history
— Buhownz 🪼 (@Demar305) May 25, 2023
Gentlemen Swept the Maple Leafs
Swept the 2nd best team in the nhl
ALL WHILE BEING AN 8th SEED WHAT A RUN SO FAR BY THE PANTHERS 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/JWWJeMrnjW
the Panthers are the prime example of just 'get to the playoffs and see what can happen' after being so close to missing.
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 25, 2023
they've taken advantage and absolutely owned the moment through each challenge (incl. being down 3-1to a historically good BOS team) and Round.
The Panthers wasted no time lifting the Prince of Wales Trophy, clearly not worried about any superstitions amid their miracle run.
