Kulikov notched an assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Kulikov's only two points in the playoffs were both assists, and they came in the last two games. The defenseman added 56 hits, 25 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating while playing in a bottom-pairing role over 24 postseason appearances. The 33-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, one of three regulars on the Panthers' blue line that could hit the open market July 1.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Anton Lundell: Pockets assist in Game 7 win
Rotowire
Lundell registered an assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Lundell didn't score a goal in June, but he had six assists over eight contests. The 22-year-old center wrapped up the postseason with 17 points, 29 shots on net, 44 hits, 17 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating while playing in a key two-way role on the third line. He's set to be a restricted free agent this summer after reaching the end of his entry-level deal, and it's likely the Panthers find a way to keep him around.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Evan Rodrigues: Collects helper in Game 7
Rotowire
Rodrigues recorded an assist in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Rodrigues was one of the Panthers' top players in the Stanley Cup Finals -- he supplied four goals and three assists in the seven-game series. The 30-year-old forward ended up with 15 points, 44 shots on net, 55 hits and a plus-6 rating over 24 playoff contests. Rodrigues is one of seven NHL-level forwards the Panthers have under contract for 2024-25 after signing a four-year deal last offseason. He should continue to operate in a middle-six role for Florida.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Reinhart: Scores Cup-clinching goal
Rotowire
Reinhart scored a goal on two shots, added two hits and blocked three shots in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
After a close call for the Oilers, Reinhart got out on a rush the other way and sniped home the decisive goal at 15:11 of the second period. While it wasn't the instant gratification of an overtime tally, Reinhart's goal ultimately sealed the Panthers' first Stanley Cup title. The 28-year-old concluded his best year yet with 10 goals and six assists over 24 playoff contests after posting 57 goals and 94 points in the regular season. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though he'll likely be near the top of the list of players the Panthers attempt to re-sign.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe: Two points in Cup clincher
Rotowire
Verhaeghe scored a goal on three shots, added an assist, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Verhaeghe didn't do much in the Stanley Cup Finals, but he saved his best effort of the series for the last game. He posted four points over seven contests versus the Oilers and finished the postseason at 11 goals, 10 assists, 79 shots on net, 27 hits, 14 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating through 24 appearances. Verhaeghe is entering a contract year in 2024-25, as it's the final season of his three-year extension from 2021.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Makes 23 saves in Game 7 win
Rotowire
Bobrovsky stopped 23 of 24 shots in Monday's 2-1 win over the Oilers in Game 7.
Bobrovsky was able to shake off a three-game losing streak just in time. He was back in vintage form, and he stepped up with the Oilers pressing while searching for a tying goal that never came in the third period. Bobrovsky ends the postseason at 16-8 with a 2.32 GAA and a .906 save percentage over 24 contests. The newly minted Stanley Cup champion has made good on the seven-year, $70 million deal he signed in 2019, which runs through the 2025-26 campaign.
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Tending twine in Game 7
Rotowire
Bobrovsky will patrol the home crease Monday in Game 7 against Edmonton, according to Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post.
Bobrovsky will be back on the ice for Monday's morning skate after skipping Sunday's session for routine-related reasons. He has surrendered 12 goals on 58 shots during his three-game losing streak. Bobrovsky needs to end that skid Monday for the Panthers to avoid becoming the second team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. The 35-year-old netminder has a 15-8 record with a 2.38 GAA and a .903 save percentage through 23 starts this postseason.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Dmitry Kulikov: Nabs helper in loss
Rotowire
Kulikov posted an assist, two shots on goal and four hits in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6.
The helper was Kulikov's first point since April 4, ending a 27-game dry spell that had covered all of the Panthers' postseason run. While his offense has been absent, the 33-year-old blueliner has racked up 55 hits, 25 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over 23 playoff appearances. He's been a fixture in a third-pairing role, though that's not one that comes with much ice time given the talented defensemen on the Panthers' roster.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe: Supplies helper
Rotowire
Verhaeghe notched an assist and went minus-2 in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6.
Verhaeghe has often been one of the Panthers' most clutch performers, but he's fallen flat in the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row. He has just two points over six contests versus the Oilers. Overall, he's at 19 points, 76 shots on net, 27 hits and a minus-7 rating through 23 playoff appearances.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Aleksander Barkov: Nets lone goal in loss
Rotowire
Barkov scored a goal on three shots and went minus-2 in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6.
Barkov had a tally in the second period overturned on a review, as the play was offside. He eventually got a goal anyway, but the Panthers couldn't build off of it. The 28-year-old has five points over six games against the Oilers, but the Panthers' depth scoring has evaporated almost as quickly as their 3-0 series lead. Barkov is at 22 points, 57 shots on net, 50 hits, 24 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating over 23 playoff outings.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Takes third straight loss
Rotowire
Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 19 shots in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers in Game 6. The last two goals were empty-netters.
The Oilers didn't dominate early in the game, but they converted their chances while limiting the Panthers' offense over the first two periods. Bobrovsky ultimately wasn't up to the task, and he's now allowed 15 goals over his last four games, with losses in each of the last three. He'll presumably have one more chance to secure the Stanley Cup for the Panthers in Monday's Game 7 on home ice, as it's unlikely head coach Paul Maurice will switch to backup Anthony Stolarz for the winner-take-all contest.
Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky: Guarding goal in Game 6
Rotowire
Bobrovsky will defend the road crease in Edmonton on Friday, Mike Cugno of CBS Miami reports.
Bobrovsky has really struggled the last two games, giving up nine goals on 39 shots (.769 save percentage). Overall, the netminder is 15-7 with a 2.35 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 22 playoff appearances. Bobrovsky was on a six-game winning streak prior to losing the past two contests.
