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The two best teams in the NHL’s Eastern Conference will rightfully battle in the Eastern Conference Finals. The winner earns a ticket to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals and a chance at having their names etched on the glorious Silver Cup. The loser does not “pass GO”, nor do they collect that imaginary $200. They return home armed with figuring out how to get this far again next season.
Florida won two games out of three between the two clubs in the NHL regular season. All games were closely contested matchups providing an appetizer to the seven-course hockey feast* which hockey fans are about to devour over the next week or two in the Eastern Conference Finals.
[*number of course subject to vary based on games played in the series]
Eastern Conference Finals Matchup Between the Pipes
Total Apex Sports’ writer, Trevor Poetzinger, made this section very easy for me with his excellent breakdown of the Eastern Conference Finals goalie matchup last night that I really couldn’t think of much to add:
As for goaltending, Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky and Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin are as good as they come. Bobrovsky, a Vezina trophy finalist this year, played otherworldly in the 2023 playoffs for the Cats. His .915 save percentage and 2.78 GAA propelled the Panthers to their first Cup Final appearance since 1996.
On the other side, Igor Shesterkin has given himself a reputation as one of the league’s top goaltenders year in and year out since his appearance in 2021. Even with a Vezina trophy under his belt, he continues to impress the hockey world. So far in these playoffs, Shesterkin ranks 3rd in saves with 299, 2nd in save% with a .923, and 4th in goals against with a 2.40 GAA.
As we can see above, it should be a fascinating battle in the net between the Rangers and the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Neither goalie has given opposing teams much to work with this postseason, so both squads will need to bring their “working skates” to light that red lamp.
[ok fine it hasn’t been a lamp for decades. shoosh…. “light the red LED light” doesn’t sound as good. Don’t @ me. [@CBabosWrites on X]
Rangers Road to Victory in Eastern Conference Finals
The New York Rangers will need to rely on their top-scoring threats of Kreider (7 goals), Panarin (4), and Zibanejad (3) to break through the Florida defenses. Vincent Trocheck (6) is thriving in his second playoff appearance for the Blueshirts with an astounding 14 points in 10 games.
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice understands the tough task it will be to shut down New York in the Eastern Conference Finals:
“Just very, very fast, very talented team, dynamic off the rush,” Panthers coach Maurice said of the Rangers. “They’ve got all the spots. They’re the best team in the League. They’ve got the goaltending, forwards and back end are big and strong and the forwards are very skilled.”
Panthers Path To a 3rd Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
For the Florida Panthers to see rats littering the ice in the Stanley Cup Finals, they will also need to rely on important scoring threats led by captain, Alexsander Barkov. “Sasha” Barkov (5 goals), Carter Verhaeghe (6), and Sam Reinhart (5) will have to solve the Shesterkin riddle before the Rangers solve Bob’s puzzle to claim victory in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Just like his counterpart coach, Peter Laviolette sees the looming threat in last season’s Stanley Cup Finalist:
“I think they’ve picked up some good confidence and experience in the last year and a half between making that run in the playoffs, getting in the playoffs, making that run to the Final,” Rangers coach Laviolette said. “They’ve got a group that’s been around and been there done and I think confidence goes with that too. They’re big, they’re strong, they’re physical.
More must-reads:
- Takeaways from Oilers' Game 4 win in Stanley Cup Final
- Report: Oilers open extension negotiations with veteran winger
- Can you name every NHL player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy?
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