Sam Reinhart’s Four-Goal Clinic Seals Back-to-Back Titles

SUNRISE, FL – STANLEY CUP FINAL – The Florida Panthers secured their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5–1 in Game 6 at Amerant Bank Arena. This marks the Panthers’ first back-to-back NHL championships, a feat not achieved since Edmonton in 1987–88.

🏒 Reinhart’s Historic Night

Star forward Sam Reinhart registered a record-breaking four goals, including two empty-netters, becoming the first player since Montreal’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard in 1957 to score four goals in a Cup final game—only the sixth ever to do so. His opening strike—stealing the puck at Edmonton’s blue line and scoring—set the tone for the dominant performance.

The Panthers outscored the Oilers 16–4 in the last four games of the series after a tightly contested start that saw three of the first four games go to overtime.

🧤 Goaltending and Coaching Mastery

Sergei Bobrovsky was outstanding between the pipes, turning away 28 of 29 shots, including several key saves in a frantic second period to keep his team in command. Head coach Paul Maurice, a veteran of 26 NHL seasons, becomes the 20th coach in history to win multiple Stanley Cups.

“It’s tough to repeat,” Maurice reflected, praising his team’s chemistry and resilience. “We were at the bottom at the start, but these guys love and care about each other.”

🏆 Conn Smythe MVP

Panthers center Sam Bennett received the Conn Smythe Trophy after leading all players with 15 playoff goals, including five in the finals, and playing a pivotal role in Florida’s repeat success.

⛽ Oilers’ Missed Chances

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both held scoreless in the finale and finished the game with –4 ratings, suffered as the Panthers’ suffocating defense reset the series. The Oilers become the first team since Boston in 1977–78 to lose consecutive Cups.

📈 After the Final Whistle

The win cements Florida’s ascent—becoming the ninth team to reach the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive times (2023–2025) and joining the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020–21) as recent dynasties.

For Florida, this championship caps off a meteoric rise from a one-and-done 1996 runner-up to a modern powerhouse—while Canada’s long Stanley Cup drought continues, untouched since the 1992–93 Montreal Canadiens.