Panthers’ Marchand second player to have five goals in multiple Cup Finals

At 37 years old, Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand appears not just to be improving with age since his only Stanley Cup victory 14 years ago, but perhaps even retaining his youthful looks, as he humorously suggested on Saturday night.

When asked what his 23-year-old self might think reflecting on winning the Cup in his second NHL season with the Boston Bruins in 2011, Marchand chuckled and responded, “Man, that guy`s good-looking.”

Physical appearance aside, Marchand`s scoring ability has remained a constant, earning him a place among the greats in Stanley Cup Final history.

The former Bruins captain, who joined Florida at the NHL trade deadline in March, netted two goals in a 5-2 win against Edmonton, including the game-winning tally. This performance pushed the Panthers to a 3-2 series lead in the Cup Final, with the series set to return to Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday.

“As I’ve mentioned many times, I’m just trying to savor the moment. This is a truly special group to be part of, and I’m enjoying it immensely,” Marchand commented. He has accumulated 10 goals this postseason, with six coming in the Final series. “Sometimes things just unfold that way. You get some lucky bounces, and sometimes you don`t.”

However, Marchand`s goals on Saturday night weren`t simply a matter of luck. Both scores resulted from him determinedly driving to the net, using his strength to get past defenders.

He initiated the scoring at 9:12 of the first period by quickly reacting to a loose puck following a center-ice faceoff, powering past defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and squeezing the puck through the pads of goaltender Calvin Pickard.

Marchand extended the lead to 3-0 approximately five minutes into the third period. He carried the puck up the left wing, bypassed Jake Walman, and fired a backhand shot that found its way under Pickard, serving as the decisive goal.

With his performance, Marchand became the 18th player – and the oldest – to score six goals in a single final series, a feat not accomplished since Esa Tikkanen of Edmonton in 1988. Furthermore, having scored five goals in Boston`s 2011 Cup-winning series against Vancouver, Marchand now joins Mario Lemieux as only the second player in the last 50 years to record five or more goals in multiple Stanley Cup Finals.