The state of Florida is a certified hockey hotspot.
For a second straight season, the Florida Panthers are headed back to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers dominated the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, needing six games because of Igor Shesterkin’s masterful performances.
Now that they are through, the state of Florida has accomplished something that hasn’t been done in a very long time.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning going to the Cup Final from 2020-2022, winning in 2020 and 2021, and Florida making it from 2023 and 2024, the state of Florida has appeared in a Cup Final five straight years.
The last state to accomplish that is the New York Islanders, who went on a tear, winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1983.
Their dynasty came to an end in 1984, when the Edmonton Oilers beat them in five games.
New York went to the final six straight seasons, as Rangers lost to Montreal in 1979.
Who would have ever thought Florida would be a hockey hot bead?