Panthers Uphold Prince of Wales Trophy Superstition After Eastern Conference Title

June 2, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

In the NHL, as in other sports, trophies are awarded for conference titles—much in the way that hardware is given to the AFC and NFC champions, American League and National League champions, and so on.

However, only hockey’s conference trophies have elaborate lore surrounding what you can do and not do with them.

Superstition generally holds that you should touch neither the Eastern Conference’s Prince of Wales Trophy nor Western Conference’s Clarence Campbell Bowl, instead saving your adulation for the Stanley Cup. However, the Florida Panthers bucked that tradition in 2023, embracing the Prince of Wales Trophy after their Eastern Conference title.

With a loss in the 2023 Stanley Cup finals to the Vegas Golden Knights fresh in mind, Florida made no such mistake after its 2–1 clinching win over the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday.

They aren’t superstitious, but they are a little stitious… 🤷‍♂️

After touching the Prince of Wales Trophy last season, the @FlaPanthers weren’t taking any chances this year. 😂 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/uaTrMMQxsT

— NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2024

A video posted by the NHL showed the Panthers handling the trophy after beating the Carolina Hurricanes in ’23—and then avoiding it like the plague in 2024.

Whether this hands-off approach will benefit Florida going forward remains to be seen.

1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Lightning Coach Jon Cooper Apologizes for ‘Goalies in Skirts’ Comments After Playoff Exit

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper apologized Wednesday for comments he made Monday after the Lightning's playoff elimination that were widely condemned as misogynistic.

"I made an inappropriate analogy about goalies and skirts," Cooper told reporters. "You know, it’s one of those moments if you could just reach back and grab the words back, I would have."

Tampa Bay lost 6-1 to the Florida Panthers Monday in Game 5 of their first round series. After the contest, an irate Cooper questioned two goalie interference calls by suggesting "we might as well put skirts on (goalies) then, if that’s how it’s gonna be."

Cooper said he had to explain himself to his twin daughters after his comments.

Jon Cooper opened his press conference by apologizing for his goalies wearing skirts comments. “Quite frankly, it was wrong.” Said it has pained him more than the series loss. Especially with daughters at home. Wishes he could go back in time and take it back. pic.twitter.com/4iDgrpRhY9
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) May 1, 2024

"I have girls that play sports," Cooper said. "Quite frankly, it was wrong. I had to go explain myself to my girls... it’s pained me more than the actual series loss itself."

In 12 years with the Lightning, Cooper has won two Stanley Cups and four Eastern Conference titles.

2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Fan Displays Iconic Vintage Newspaper From 1994 Playoffs at Rangers-Panthers Game 6

As a franchise nearly seven decades older than their Eastern Conference finals opponents, the New York Rangers have more than their fair share of ghosts to call forth at any given time.

On Saturday night, they did just that ahead of a must-win Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.

Before the Rangers and Panthers' showdown, ABC's cameras found a young rinkside fan at Amerant Bank Arena holding up a copy of The New York Post. It wasn't just any copy, however—it was a perfectly preserved copy from May 25, 1994.

"We'll win tonight," reads the headline, paraphrasing New York forward Mark Messier's famous guarantee before the Rangers' Eastern Conference finals-tying 4–2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

THIS RANGERS FAN HELD UP AN ORIGINAL COPY OF "THE GUARANTEE" HEADLINE FROM 1994 😱🔥 pic.twitter.com/c5SllDT3j6
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 2, 2024

New York went on to beat the Devils in Game 7, and won the Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.

In the 30 years since, the Rangers have yet to win hockey's biggest prize.

2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Panthers Hold Off Rangers in Game 6 to Lock Up Third Eastern Conference Title

For the fifth straight year, the Stanley Cup finals will have a Floridian flavor.

The Florida Panthers downed the New York Rangers 2–1 Saturday evening in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals to win the series. With the victory, the Panthers won their third conference championship and second in as many years.

Previous Florida trips to the Stanley Cup finals include 1996, when the third-year franchise was swept by the Colorado Avalanche, and 2023, when the team lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

To best the Rangers Saturday, the Panthers overcame a Herculean effort from New York goalie Igor Shesterkin. Center Sam Bennett staked Florida to a 1–0 lead at 19:10 of the first period, and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko added a second nine minutes into the third.

The Rangers opened their account with left wing Artemi Panarin's goal at 18:20 of the third period, but it was too little too late for New York's best team by points percentage since 1972.

The Panthers will meet either the Dallas Stars or Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals; the Oilers lead their series three games to two with Game 6 scheduled for Sunday evening.

US Sports News

Panthers Uphold Prince of Wales Trophy Superstition After Eastern Conference Title

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Jimm Sallivan