It’s back-to-back Stanley Cups for Florida and back-to-back heartbreaks for Edmonton

The Florida Panthers have conquered the mountain once again and Canada’s Stanley Cup drought will last another year.

Sam Reinhart led the way with four goals as the Panthers blew out the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in game six of the Stanley Cup Final tonight.

After needing seven games to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup less than a calendar year ago, Florida only needed six games to complete its bid to defend the title this year.

And while it’s back-to-back championships for Florida, it’s back-to-back heartbreaks for an Oilers team led by two of this generation’s greatest stars.

LIFT IT HIGH BOYS, YOU'VE EARNED IT! 🫡 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ZSmlqOiqJ8

— NHL (@NHL) June 18, 2025

For the fifth straight game, the Panthers opened the scoring in this one and it came on an impressive individual effort from Reinhart.

Matthew Tkachuk doubled the lead late in the first period with a goal that would end the night as both the game- and Stanley Cup-winning tally.

Most of the second period passed by without any scoring and it looked like Edmonton would be within striking distance heading into the third, but Reinhart had other ideas.

At the end of a dominant shift from Florida’s top line, a poor rebound off the chest of Stuart Skinner came to Alexander Barkov and the Panthers captain found Reinhart backdoor for an easy goal.

SAM REINHART DOUBLES DOWN! ✌️ #StanleyCup

The @FlaPanthers have a three-goal lead!

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/RoarWeoHV0

— NHL (@NHL) June 18, 2025

The Oilers are never out of a game, but they looked a bit deflated in the final 20 minutes and head coach Kris Knoblauch decided to pull Skinner with over seven minutes left.

The strategy didn’t work, as Reinhart scored his hat trick goal into the empty net just seconds later and Panthers fans could truly start to celebrate.

Knoblauch pulled Skinner again, leading to yet another Reinhart empty netter, and Vasily Podkolzin scored a meaningless late goal for the Oilers to make it a 5-1 final.

Last year’s game seven was decided by one goal and contested until the final seconds, but this year’s celebration for the Panthers was different.

With the game well in hand, the Florida bench was well into party mode with over a minute left and they poured off the bench to mob Sergei Bobrovsky before the clock even hit zero.

THE MOMENT THE @FLAPANTHERS BECAME BACK-TO-BACK #STANLEYCUP CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oYlia49VYJ

— NHL (@NHL) June 18, 2025

Another thing different about this year’s win was the Conn Smythe trophy, which was famously won by Oilers captain Connor McDavid in a losing cause last season.

This year, the trophy awarded to the playoff MVP went back to the Panthers locker room for the first time, as Sam Bennett got the nod after leading the playoffs with 15 goals.

The Panthers have all the makings of a dynasty, if they’re not considered one already after three straight finals appearances and back-to-back Stanley Cups, but they have an interesting off-season ahead.

Management will have their work cut out with some key players, including Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Conn Smythe winner Bennett, set to become free agents on July 1.

The Oilers, on the other hand, will spend another summer wondering what more they need to do to bring the Stanley Cup north of the 49th parallel for the first time since 1993.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of the NHL on X.}