SUNRISE, Fla. — The Panthers want a miracle. Again.

Such is the story of Florida’s season, and it makes all of the sense on this planet that the plot has reappeared within the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers wanted a livid late-season push simply to get into the playoffs because the lowest seed, then wanted to win three consecutive elimination video games to oust a record-setting Boston staff in Round 1.

And now, one other big problem awaits. Down 2-0 within the title collection to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Panthers return to house ice on Thursday night time trying to spark another epic turnaround and get proper again within the hunt for hockey’s greatest prize.

“Desperation and winning a game,” Florida veteran Marc Staal stated. “We’ve approached every game in the playoffs the same way. We just try to take it - like everyone says - one at a time. But our backs are against the wall, obviously. We’re down by two. But we’re coming home. Love our team, love our resiliency. We’re going to go out and give our best effort and play our best game tomorrow and go from there.”

To say the percentages are stacked excessive in opposition to the Panthers is a little bit of an understatement.

- They’ve overwhelmed Vegas in 4 of 12 all-time conferences between the franchises. And now they’ve obtained to beat them in 4 of the subsequent 5 video games to win the Cup.

- They’ve been outscored 10-2 within the final 4 durations in opposition to Vegas.

- Matthew Tkachuk has two extra misconduct penalties (three) than he has factors (one, a objective) within the collection.

- Former Panthers Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith have as many targets to date within the collection (4) as all the present Panthers do within the collection, mixed.

- Vegas hasn’t dropped 4 out of 5 video games since going 1-2-2 to start out a six-game street swing that started in late January.

- Teams that begin a Stanley Cup Final with two house wins have received the Cup 38 instances in 41 previous situations.

But by now, Florida’s penchant for pulling off the unbelievable is well-known. Almost anticipated, actually.

“Of course, we’ve had three really tough series,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov stated. “Boston is a good example. We were down, we found a way, we started playing a little better, we found a way to come back and get out of there. Same thing here - we’ve just got to work a little harder, work a little smarter and find a way to win games.”

They’ve achieved it earlier than.

There was the 6-0-1 stretch late within the season to carry off Pittsburgh for the ultimate Eastern Conference playoff spot. The successful three elimination video games in opposition to a Boston staff that had the very best common season in NHL historical past in Round 1; Game 5 there was on the street in additional time, Game 6 required a rally late within the third interval to erase a 5-4 deficit and Game 7 was one other street OT victory. There was a four-overtime win at Carolina within the East last, setting the desk for a sweep the place the Panthers obtained 4 one-goal wins and allowed solely six targets.

They’ve given up 12 targets in two video games in opposition to Vegas. And it’s not all on Sergei Bobrovsky, both. Panthers coach Paul Maurice discovered it humorous that it was thought-about a shock to some that Bobrovsky – who carried Florida to the ultimate spherical - will stay the starter for Game 3.

“He was outstanding in Game 1,” Maurice stated. “And he was as good as our team was in Game 2.”

The message was easy: Everyone must be higher. The Panthers have a historical past of rising to these moments.

“We never lose doubt in this room,” Florida ahead Ryan Lomberg stated. “Obviously, they’re a good team. They got here for a reason. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s kind of the theme of our whole year is we make it tough. Whether we wanted it this way or not, it’s this way, so we’ve got to play the hand we’re dealt now.”

NOTES: Maurice stated he expects D Radko Gudas, who left Game 2 injured, to play in Game 3. Forward Eetu Luostarinen will stay out. Maurice declined to supply specifics on Luostarinen’s harm, however quipped “he’s a good human.” … Thursday will likely be Florida’s first Stanley Cup Final recreation on house ice in FLA Live Arena. The Panthers’ 1996 last look was at a long-demolished enviornment in Miami.

• AP hockey author Stephen Whyno contributed to this story.

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