Winning the Stanley Cup is a feat of its own, but going down 2-0 in a series may be almost impossible to overcome. If history has shown us anything, it is that no teams down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Final have virtually no chance of winning, but if a team can come back from a 2-0 deficit, it is the Florida Panthers.
Teams Winning Games 1 & 2 at Home Are 28-3 in The Stanley Cup Final
After a horrific loss in game two of the Stanley Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Florida Panthers will return home to sunny South Florida in the hope of at least splitting the two games to keep their championship aspirations alive. History has shown that out of the 31 times that there has been a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the team leading the series has won 28 times.
Refocus & get right back at it. pic.twitter.com/rTPHswEaS5
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 5, 2023
In 1939 the Toronto Maple Leafs were down 2-0 to the Boston Bruins and became the first team ever to win the Stanley Cup ever trailing in a series. In 1971 the Montreal Canadiens returned from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games. Lastly, in 2011 the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in seven games after losing the first two games of the series on the road.
The Panthers’ Struggles Can Reset Their Mindset
The Florida Panthers have played far from their best hockey through the first two games, and they are the first to admit that. They gave up three goals in the third period in game one, which has been very uncharismatic of themselves, only giving up three goals in the third back in game six of the first round against the Boston Bruins. Then in game seven, the Panthers trailed 4-0 after two periods after the Panthers could not create any momentum. Ultimately the 7-2 finish hit the reset button for the Panthers, who went 11-1 after trailing Boston 3-1.
"The parts of our game that we know we can improve, we're gonna have to get to real fast."
Paul Maurice last night on takeaways from Game 1 and 2 against Vegas. #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/XlyfVEXh7r
— Bally Sports (@BallySports) June 6, 2023
The Panthers look to be without Radko Gudas. Although filling in for a defenseman who plays significant minutes can be fixable. What cannot be fixed is if Florida retains the confidence they have developed throughout the playoffs. Florida is a team who needs to remain confident. They are the prior president trophy winner. They have defeated three of the top four teams en route to the Stanley Cup Final. Lastly they have been arguably the most dominant team in hockey the past three months. They have to concentrate on what has made them successful to this point.
Need to Get Back to What Made Them Successful
The Florida Panthers have struggled to break through Vegas’ defense. The Panthers’ offensive firepower cannot be underestimated though, and they have the potential to overpower the Golden Knights defence. If Florida consistently breaks through Vegas’ defensive structure, they could emerge victorious in Game 3.
Under Review: Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk obliterates Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel… should it have been a penalty? https://t.co/pSVBOePSDk pic.twitter.com/0OKBR0TWGJ
— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) June 6, 2023
Game 3 is likely to be a battle of strategies. Paul Maurice will need to make changes going forward in the series. The Golden Knights’ strength lies in their ability to stifle opposing offences and transition quickly to the attack. Their forechecking and physical play can disrupt the Florida Panthers’ offensive rhythm. Vegas will look to control the game’s pace, suffocating the Panthers’ forwards and limiting their scoring opportunities.
Conversely, the Panthers will seek to utilize their speed and skill to create scoring chances. Their high-powered offense can overwhelm opponents if given room to maneuver. By maintaining firm puck possession and executing quick transitions, the Panthers can put the Golden Knights on their back foot and force defensive errors. If Florida wants any chance to get back into the series, they need to get back to that.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
