Marchand, Panthers Near Cup After Historic Final

Brad Marchand has propelled the Florida Panthers to within one win of their second consecutive Stanley Cup, scoring six goals in the Final and becoming the first player to score at least five goals in a Stanley Cup Final for two different teams. He is also the seventh player in NHL history to achieve five or more goals in multiple Finals, a feat last accomplished by Mario Lemieux. Marchand's two-goal performance in Game 5 led the Panthers to a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers and a 3-2 series lead. His leadership and clutch performances, along with trade deadline acquisitions like defenseman Seth Jones, have been pivotal for Florida. The Panthers have set new records for road wins and goals scored on the road in a Final. Florida can clinch the Cup at home in Game 6, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since the 2020-2021 Tampa Bay Lightning.