Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand, at 37, continues to defy age, showcasing his scoring prowess in the Stanley Cup Final. On Saturday night, he not only contributed two goals but also brought a light-hearted moment to the ice, joking about his youthful looks.
“Man, that guy's good looking,” Marchand quipped when reflecting on his 23-year-old self and the glory of winning the Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. Yet, it’s his performance that truly stands out, placing him among the elite in Stanley Cup history.
Acquired by Florida at the trade deadline, Marchand's impact was evident as he scored twice in a decisive 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead in the series. The next game shifts to Florida on Tuesday night.
“Like I've said plenty of times, trying to enjoy the moment. It's a pretty special group to be a part of, and I'm having a lot of fun,” Marchand stated, reflecting on his ten postseason goals, six of which have come in this final series. “It's just how it plays out sometimes. Sometimes you get bounces. Sometimes you don't.”
However, luck played little role in Marchand's goals on Saturday. Both were a result of his determination and skill, as he muscled through defenders to reach the net.
He opened the scoring just over nine minutes into the game, seizing a loose puck from a center-ice faceoff, outmaneuvering defender Mattias Ekholm, and slipping the puck past goalie Calvin Pickard.
Marchand extended the lead to 3-0 early in the third period, driving up the left wing, evading Jake Walman, and backhanding a shot under Pickard for what would be the game-winning goal.
This performance made him the oldest player to score six goals in a single final series, joining an exclusive club that includes Esa Tikkanen, who last achieved this feat in 1988. Additionally, Marchand became only the second player in 50 years to score five or more goals in multiple Cup finals, matching Mario Lemieux's record.
With this victory, Marchand also recorded his 16th career playoff game-winning goal, tying him for 10th on the NHL all-time list alongside legends Jaromir Jagr and Patrick Marleau.
“He's amazing. He's been a leader for us,” praised goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. “He has been scoring big goals for us, and tonight he made a hell of an effort by himself.”
Teammate Anton Lundell expressed admiration for Marchand's drive after assisting on his opening goal. “That's just him. He just has that passion, which you saw today,” Lundell noted. “He decided he wanted to go there and be the difference maker, and he did that. Unbelievable player, and we're all pretty amazed by him.”
The Panthers continued their impressive road performance, improving to 10-3 away from home this postseason, matching the record set by the 2019 St. Louis Blues for most road wins in a single playoff run. Sam Bennett added his team-leading 15th goal of the playoffs while Bobrovsky made 19 saves against a potent Oilers offense.
This win came on the heels of a disappointing Game 4 where Florida squandered a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 overtime loss. Now positioned to potentially join Tampa Bay as one of only two teams to repeat as champions in the 2000s, the Panthers are focused on their next challenge.
Marchand is making his fourth appearance in the Cup finals after previous losses with Boston against St. Louis in 2019 and Chicago in 2013. “I'm not there yet,” he remarked when asked about winning a second title. “It's about process. That's all we're going to worry about—process, structure. So we'll look at a few things and get prepared.”
