The FLA Cats Hockey Podcast · The Hockey Podcast Network

Eastern Conference Champions! #THPN. Episode 68.

·33 min·3 clips

The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup Finals, but can they erase 20 years of bad memories this time?

Hosts David Rodriguez and Ryan Keelan, two passionate Florida Panthers fans, recap the team's series victory over the New York Rangers to become Eastern Conference Champions. They analyze the six-game series that secured the Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance. The hosts emphasize that the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup remains unfinished. The Panthers overcame the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers, who had home-ice advantage. Florida won Game 1, but New York took Games 2 and 3, with the latter being an overtime loss the hosts felt the Panthers dominated. Sam Reinhart's overtime winner in Game 4 prevented a 3-1 series deficit, which the hosts identify as the pivotal momentum shift. The Panthers then won Games 5 and 6 to close the series, allowing only three total goals in those final three games. Rangers stars Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad were limited to just one combined goal for the entire series. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is credited as the series' best player despite the loss, while Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky rebounded after a poor Game 3. The hosts highlight Anton Lundell's performance, noting his crucial no-look assist to Vladimir Tarasenko in Game 6. Secondary scoring was vital, as stars Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Reinhart were held pointless in the final two games. The Panthers' penalty kill held the Rangers' potent power play to one goal in 15 opportunities. Defensemen Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad received praise for shutting down the Rangers' top players. The hosts note that former Panther Vincent Trocheck led the Rangers with six points in the series. They also acknowledge Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière, who scored four goals in the series. The tone is celebratory yet focused, blending fan excitement with analytical breakdowns of games and individual performances. The style is a conversational and detailed recap between two knowledgeable fans who occasionally debate points like ticket prices and trophy superstitions. This episode is ideal for Florida Panthers fans seeking a thorough, enthusiastic review of the Eastern Conference Final victory. Listeners not interested in a deep, fan-centric analysis of a specific NHL playoff series may want to skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The FLA Cats Hockey Podcast