Brad Marchand shared his thoughts following the Florida Panthers’ advancement to the Stanley Cup Final, just months after his unexpected midseason trade from the Boston Bruins. The Panthers secured their spot by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on Wednesday night, closing out the Eastern Conference Finals in five games.
Marchand Reflects on Unexpected Path to Stanley Cup Final
Marchand, who had spent 16 seasons with the Bruins before the trade deadline move, spoke with TNT’s Jackie Redmond after the game about the unique experience of reaching the Stanley Cup Final in a Panthers jersey. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity despite not anticipating this outcome when traded.
“Yeah, it’s special. You’ve been around for a while, and you realize how few opportunities you have to be part of something like this. Just enjoying every moment, very grateful for the opportunity. You’re right. I didn’t expect to be here in the jersey, but I’m very happy.”
—Brad Marchand, Forward
“It’s kind of an odd feeling, you know, extremely excited to go to the finals, but the job is not done, it kinda feels like we ended any other series and still has huge job to do so, we’re looking ahead, but definitely excited about the opportunity try to take in this moments for sure,”
—Brad Marchand, Forward
Key Highlights from Panthers’ Series-Clinching Victory Over Hurricanes
The Hurricanes jumped ahead first when Sebastian Aho converted a turnover opportunity, scoring on a breakaway at 4:39 in the opening period. Aho extended Carolina’s lead with a second goal late in the first, giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 advantage.
Florida responded in the second period with a pair of goals within 30 seconds. Matthew Tkachuk scored on a power-play tip, and Evan Rodrigues capitalized on a quick give-and-go play with Sam Bennett to tie the game at 2-2. Later in the period, Anton Lundell put the Panthers ahead 3-2 with a backhand finish following a faceoff play.
The Hurricanes evened the score early in the third period when Seth Jarvis found the back of the net. However, Carter Verhaeghe reclaimed the lead for Florida with a goal set up by Barkov, followed swiftly by an empty-net goal from Sam Bennett, sealing the 5-3 win for the Panthers.
Goalkeeping and Panthers’ Third Consecutive Stanley Cup Final Appearance
Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves to secure the victory for Florida, while Carolina’s Frederik Andersen recorded 17 stops in the loss. With the Eastern Conference Championship decided, the Panthers are now headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight season.
This milestone marks a significant moment for Marchand and the Panthers as they prepare for a formidable challenge ahead in the Stanley Cup Final. Marchand’s journey, from a surprising midseason trade to this point, highlights the unpredictable nature of the NHL playoffs and the perseverance required to compete at the highest level.