RECAP: Panthers 2, Rangers 1

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers are heading back to the big dance.

Getting back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second consecutive season, the Panthers eliminated the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final behind a 23-save performance from Sergei Bobrovsky in a 2-1 win at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday.

"When the pressure was the greatest, we played our best hockey," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said.

Achieving a rare feat of determination, the Panthers are the first team to return to the Stanley Cup Final after losing the year before since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

How did they do it?

“Just a lot of motivation, dedication, commitment, the right pieces were added, some great pieces were added, and just one mindset of doing whatever we can to get back to it,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “I thought the guys that were here last year did an unbelievable job coming back for the start of camp with this on their mind. We’re not done yet. We’re very happy with the way these playoffs have gone for us, winning the first three, but it's a different feel this year, for sure. Very proud of the effort from everybody.”

With the action tight right from the get-go, both teams had a few good looks in the first period. The best chance for the Rangers came on point-blank shot from Kaapo Kakko in the slot, but that was gobbled up by Bobrovsky, who made eight stops in the period.

Turning defense into offense, the Panthers broke the ice when Evan Rodrigues batted down a clearing attempt from Rangers D-man Erik Gustafsson. Sending the action the other way, Rodrigues then set up Sam Bennett for one-timer from the left circle to make it 1-0 at 19:10.

Catching fire, Bennett scored in each of the last three games of the series.

"I started to feel a little bit more like myself as the series went on," said Bennett, who missed time earlier in the playoffs with an upper-body injury. "It was nice to be able to stick handle a little better than I was earlier. It feels good to be back to feeling right."

In the second period, goals continued to be hard to come by.

One of Florida’s best scoring chances came when Matthew Tkachuk was set free on a breakaway. Despite being unable to lift the puck over Igor Shesterkin’s blocker while being whacked on the hands by the stick of K’Andre Miller, officials opted to not make a call.

Playoff hockey, as they say.

Even with the Rangers throwing everything they could at the net, it was the Panthers that threatened the most in the second period. While New York led 27-20 in shot attempts, Florida owned a 13-6 edge in scoring chances and a 5-3 advantage in high-danger shot attempts.

Fairly silent throughout the series, Artemi Panarin looked dangerous for the Rangers early in the third period, but was shut down by Bobrovsky on back-to-back shots. Following the second of those key stops, the home crowd erupted into a supportive chorus of “Bob-by!” chants.

Locked in an epic goaltending battle with Shesterkin, Bobrovsky finished with a .921 save percentage in the series.

"It definitely feels good," said Bobrovsky, who's surrendered two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 11 games. "It's a good win. We beat a good opponent, a really good opponent."

In a foot race to a puck in the offensive zone, Eetu Luostarinen helped set up what would go on to stand as the game-winning goal for the Panthers when he stick-lifted Miller to gain possession. He then dropped the puck back to Anton Lundell, who set up Vladimir Tarasenko for a quick backdoor goal to make it 2-0 at 9:08.

Exactly what you want to see from your big trade deadline pick-up.

"When I joined the group, most of the group had been [to the Stanley Cup Final] last year," said Tarasenko, who came over from the Ottawa Senators in March. "It's one thing when you talk about it and another to feel it when you are there. I think this experience will help us a lot."

With 1:39 left and Shesterkin pulled for the extra attacker, Panarin scored to cut New York’s deficit to 2-1. But that would be as close as the Rangers would get as the Panthers held on until the horn to win their third Eastern Conference championship in franchise history.

Still, the job’s not done.

With some time now to recharge until Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday, the Panthers await the winner of the Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers, which the Oilers currently lead 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Sunday.

"We've put in a lot of hard work to get back here,” Bennett said. “It took a lot, but we're not satisfied yet. We still have a job to do."

That being said, it’s important to celebrate this moment.

There’s only three teams still playing hockey, and the Panthers are one of them.

“There’s nothing better than playing hockey in June,” Tkachuk said.

THEY SAID IT

"We expected to be back here. Obviously nothing is guaranteed, but we expected this." – Matthew Tkachuk

“We all knew that we had the same goal to get back here and get a little better. That’s what we did, and we’re here again.” – Aleksander Barkov

"They're just, on a personality basis, a more serious group. They're more even-keeled than last year's team." – Paul Maurice

"It's one moment at a time. We build our system, we cement our system and we work for each other. We work hard." – Sergei Bobrovsky

"It's not done yet. We've been through three rounds and have one left. It's been a good journey so far." – Vladimir Tarasenko

CATS STATS

- Florida improved to 8-0 when scoring first in potential-series clinching games.

- The Panthers are the sixth different franchise in the past 30 years to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons.

- The Panthers are the third team in NHL history to eliminate the Presidents’ Trophy winner in consecutive postseasons.

- The Panthers went 14-for-15 on the penalty kill in the Eastern Conference Final.

- Sam Bennett led the Panthers with four goals in the series.

- Nine different Panthers recorded multiple points in the series.

- Matthew Tkachuk led the Panthers with four assists in the series.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Twelve wins down, four to go.

While the Panthers have to wait at least one more day to find out who their opponent will be in the Stanley Cup Final, fans can already sign up for pre-sale access for tickets to the series.

Click here to register.