To win at this time of the year players put their bodies through so much. In this series, with the history of the two teams, having met in the Stanley Cup Final last year, the Panthers edging the Oilers in seven games, there was a feeling going in that it was essentially a rivalry continued as opposed to renewed.

The Florida Panthers got outplayed for stretches of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final and ultimately lost to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime after a puck over the glass penalty.

For nearly three full years under coach Paul Maurice, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were unbeatable in the playoffs when holding a lead through either of the first two periods.