The Florida Panthers are NHL champions after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It marks the team’s first NHL championship.
The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the series, but stormed back to win three straight and force a decisive Game 7 in Florida.
The Panthers struck first in the opening period with a goal from Carter Verhaeghe, only for Mattias Janmark and the Oilers to answer just over two minutes later. Sam Reinhart‘s goal late in the second period regained Florida’s lead, which it held on to the rest of the night.
Florida, which lost to the Vegas Golden Knights last year, is now the third team in the expansion era (since 1968) to win the Cup the year after losing it. The Panthers are also the fourth expansion team over the past 40 seasons to win the Stanley Cup.
The sports world chimed in on social media with reactions to the Panthers’ historic triumph.
Florida-based teams
SOUTH FLORIDA, STAND UP ‼️
The @FlaPanthers are Stanley Cup Champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/CGyZFpoe6E
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) June 25, 2024
VAMOOS 👏👏👏👏 https://t.co/es6SskN9s1
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 25, 2024
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) June 25, 2024
THE CHAMPS 🐀🐀🐀🐀
¡Vamos @FlaPanthers! pic.twitter.com/7fco6xuLsR
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 25, 2024
Congrats to our So Flo family @FlaPanthers!!! 😼
Save the date for Panthers Night at the ballpark on September 6! pic.twitter.com/77ynOBb51D
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 25, 2024
Current and former athletes
THE PSSSSSSSSS ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/9Aumq3tt9C
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 25, 2024
Man what a series.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) June 25, 2024
GO CATS @MikeWhiteQB
@FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/dp1rOZvsIP
— Blake Ferguson (@blakeferguson48) June 25, 2024
LETS GOOOOOOOO
— Anthony Schwartz (@TheRealF1ash) June 25, 2024
🐆🐆🐆🏆!!!!
— T. Stead 🎤🎧 (@T_Armstead72) June 25, 2024