OHSWEKEN/BRANTFORD – Six Nations has helped make hockey history Monday night in Florida as Branden Montour, and his Florida Panthers won its first Stanley Cup in its 30 year history.
In doing so, Montour, the pride of Six Nations even surpassed the great Stan Jonathan who played in two Cup finals in the 1970’s but had never hoisted the legendary chalice. It was Montour’s career pinnacle thus far in his impressive hockey career.
This year’s Stanley Cup finals between Canada’s last big hope, the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers marks amongst the most exciting series in years, going all the way to a Game 7 that had it all.
The Panthers began the finals with three very well played wins and many thought the Oilers were heading towards a 4-0 sweep. Panthers defence, which includes Montour, held the “next Great One,” Connor McDavid off the scoresheet until late in the series. Meanwhile Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was nearly unbeatable frustrating the Oilers top goal-getters while backstopping Florida’s 3-0, 4-1 and 4-3 wins.
To their credit, the Oilers, facing elimination, bounced back in remarkable fashion to take the next three games. During that span, the Panthers seemed to stop forechecking with the same tenacity that won the first three games and didn’t find their intensity again until Game 7.
Something went sideways for the Panthers in Game 4 and Bobrovsky was pulled for backup Anthony Stolarz in the 8-1 thrashing which turned the Oilers fortunes, just in the nick of time.
Edmonton caught its second wind and began to look like a championship team winning the next two games as well to force Monday’s winner-takes-all Game 7.
In total, the Oilers outscored the Panthers 23-18 in the series, but the Panthers scored when they had to.
Montour did not appear in the statistics as often as it did in last years playoffs, which they lost to Vegas, however, his input this year was just as important although not as showy. Solid defence around Bobrovsky but with the ability to jump up into the play if the opportunity presents itself.
In Monday’s game, Montour saved a sure goal late in the game which would have tied it and possibly sent it to OT where anything can happen.
The Six Nation community will be on fire when Montour returns home with the Stanley Cup in tow.
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DAVE: You can find free pics on the Panthers Facebook page. Just give credit. They are happy to have their pics distributed.
