Florida Panthers Take Game 5 to Move Within Reach of Stanley Cup Final

In a thrilling matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Florida Panthers edged the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, inching closer to a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers now look poised to secure a second consecutive appearance in the championship series if they can pull off another win in Game 6 in Sunrise, Florida.

Florida’s victory was highlighted by key contributions from a range of players including Lundell and Bennett, each tallying a goal and an assist. Notably, Bobrovsky stood strong in goal, making 25 saves to bolster the Panthers’ efforts.

With tensions high in a closely fought contest, Lundell broke the tie midway through the third period, unleashing a wicked wrist shot that found the back of the net to put Florida up 2-1. Bennett later sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, extending the lead to 3-1 before Lafreniere scored for the Rangers in the final minute to make it 3-2.

The Rangers were led by Kreider, who notched a goal along with an assist, and Shesterkin, who put up a solid effort with 34 saves. However, the team couldn’t capitalize on their power play opportunities, going 0-for-3 in the game.

As the Panthers maintain their defensive prowess, successfully killing off penalties and stifling the Rangers’ offensive attempts, they have shown resilience and composure in crucial moments. On the brink of elimination, the Rangers must regroup and refocus as they head into a must-win Game 6.