SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The 2023 Stanley Cup Final had just ended, the Vegas Golden Knights were celebrating their championship and a heartbroken bunch of Florida Panthers were taking off their skates for the final time that season.

EDMONTON — In Friday’s Western Conference final Game 5 win in Dallas, the Edmonton Oilers played probably their most complete game of the entire season. They held the Stars to just 10 shots through the first two periods and won 3-1. It never looked like the game was in jeopardy. With the chance to close to set a date with the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup final, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch believes his team will have to step up their efforts even more. What was good enough Friday in Dallas

For the second straight year, the Florida Panthers have a chance at hockey’s greatest prize.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — When it was over, Vincent Trocheck wrapped his arms around goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Mika Zibanejad took a knee along the boards, watching Florida celebrate. Some other members of the New York Rangers stared blankly, just waiting for the handshake line to form. The best team in the regular season isn't going to the Stanley Cup Final — again. This time, that would be the Rangers. There hasn't been a Presidents' Trophy winner to double up with the Stanley Cup in 11 years, an

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Prince of Wales Trophy was carried onto the ice when time expired, as an arena filled with Florida Panthers fans roared in delight and dozens of players and staffers rushed over to pose with the prize. Last year, the Panthers touched the trophy. This year, they didn't. The message was clear. The Stanley Cup is the only trophy they want. For the second straight year, they have a chance at hockey's greatest prize. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots, Sam Bennett and Vladimir

The Rangers’ promising season, one full of Stanley Cup hopes, came to a disappointing end Saturday night when they lost to the Florida Panthers, 2-1, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Sunrise, Fla.

The Panthers will face either the Oilers or the Stars.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Rangers put Jonny Brodzinski back into their lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, taking the spot of little-used Matt Rempe. Brodzinski appeared in only two of New York's first 15 games in this post-season, going without a point in Games 1 and 2 of Round 2 against Carolina. He had six goals and 13 assists in 57 games during the regular season. Rempe played only four shifts in Game 5, staying on the ice

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has never been this close to playing for a Stanley Cup since the Edmonton Oilers took him with the first overall draft pick in 2011. It's been even longer for the franchise that has won the Cup five times. Edmonton was right in the middle of a span of 10 consecutive seasons without even making the playoffs when Nugent-Hopkins was drafted. And while the Oilers went into this season considered a Cup contender, they were 5-12-1 in November and already had made a coaching change.

DALLAS — Kris Knoblauch arrived to find a locker room in turmoil. The Edmonton Oilers — among the Stanley Cup favourites when training camp opened — had got off to a disastrous start to the NHL season. The club was in a tailspin, languishing near the bottom of the standings despite a roster led by superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. There were plenty of questions, and not many answers, when Knoblauch took over for the fired Jay Woodcroft in November with the Oilers sitting a st