Six explanations for the Florida Panthers’ huge success

As you read on the Expressen site yesterday, Ulf Samuelson now believes that the “cats” are favorites to win the Stanley Cup.

And it’s hard to argue against the NHL legend and former Panthers assistant coach even though the Vegas Golden Knights, who are the likely finals opponent, are a very good team.

Here are some points that explain the Panther’s progress:

■ The three-pointer for Matthew Tkachuk from the Calgary Flames last summer gave the team the power forward it needed to become a strong playoff team. A leader on the ice.

■ Goalkeeper Sergej Bobrovsky rediscovered super form. Now he is suddenly making amends for his criticized seven-year contract with the giant salary of 10 million dollars per year, which corresponds to approximately 107 million kroner.

■ Gustav Forsling’s rise from a good defender to a star back in the league.

■ Tough forwards Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair and Sam Reinhart, who give the team strong forechecking.

■ Team captain Aleksander Barkov balanced attacking play, clever passing and hard work in defense.

■ Good scoring production from Carter Vehaeghe.

This is the first time Florida is in the finals since 1996, when it faced the patrol of Peter Forsberg and his Colorado Avalanche, who won the finals series 4-0 in games.

This edition of Panthers is a few classes better. You have no direct weak points.

Can you give the Vegas Golden Knights a fight for the status-laden giant trophy?

Absolutely.

Finally, it was nice to see Patric Hörnqvist standing in the hallway outside the locker room when his teammates came off the ice and to hug them.

“Bengan” has not played since December 3 last year, when he suffered a concussion in the away game with the Seattle Kraken.

– But Hörnqvist is as important a driving force in the team as always, even if he is not on the ice in the playoffs, former NHL player Eddie Olczyk commented on the television broadcast by TNT in the USA.

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