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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Lauren Theisen

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Five

The Panthers Are A Nightmare For The Rest Of The NHL

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a goal

Carolina Hurricanes v Florida Panthers – Game Four

The Hurricanes Avoided The Garbage Can

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Ray Ratto

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 22: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice participates in a press conference after game two of the Eastern Conference Final of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 22, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 22 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†Eastern Conference Final Panthers at Hurricanes

Paul Maurice Is The Jack Adams Of Not Being A Jackass

Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice looks on during the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on Friday May 9, 2025.

NHL: MAY 09 Stanley Cup Playoffs 2nd Round Maple Leafs at Panthers

Paul Maurice And The Panthers Do Not Care If You’re Having Fun

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers fights with Shayne Gostisbehere #4 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 20, 2025.

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game One

For The Panthers And Thunder, The Worse The Better

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Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 18: of the Florida Panthers skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 18, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 6-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

Florida Panthers v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Seven

Something’s Over In Toronto

TORONTO, ON - May 18: The Toronto Maple Leafs skate off the ice after game 7 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on May 18, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 18 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Panthers at Maple Leafs

Seven Is The Leafs’ Unlucky Number

TORONTO, ON- MAY 14 - Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf (64) battle in the snow in first period action as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 14, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs oplay the  Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs

Toronto Once Again Wins The Stanley Cup Of Angst

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

<p>Heather Chen is a former Defector intern and the managing editor at the <em>Columbia Daily Spectator</em>. She loves hockey, photography, and the good ol’ state of Michigan.</p>


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Heather Wei-Xi Chen

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers smokes a cigar while wearing the NHL/WWE Stanley Cup Championship belt in the locker room after Game Seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Seven

My Beloved American Girl Doll Will Not Stop Wearing His Big Belt

Sergei Bobrovsky makes a save on his back

Don’t Forget That The Panthers Almost Choked It All Away

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 24: Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice raises the Stanley Cup during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on June 24th, 2024 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 24 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Paul Maurice Is A Gem

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 24: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers enters the dressing room with the Stanley Cup ready to celebrate with teammates after beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Seven

Momentum Or The Moment?

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 21: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers falls into goaltender falls into goaltender Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of Game Six of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on June 21, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta.

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Game 7 Is For Haters, Too

The Oilers Are Astonishing

, FLORIDA - JUNE 18: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates between teammates Aleksander Barkov #16 and Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 18, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Florida Panthers – Game Five

It’s Connor McDavid’s Playoffs

NHL: JUN 18 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

This Is All Anyone Could’ve Hoped For

The NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the NHL Stanley Cup are pictured in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

F1 Grand Prix of Miami – Previews

The Playoffs Go Tinfoil

Connor McDavid is stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Three

The Charge Of The Oil Brigade

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 13: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 of the Edmonton Oilers skates past Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers during the first period of Game Three of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on June 13, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Panther Sticks Are Everywhere

Evan Rodrigues celebrates after scoring a goal

2024 Stanley Cup Final – Game Two

The Panthers Kept The Faith

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a tough save in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: JUN 08 Stanley Cup Final – Oilers at Panthers

Bob Was As Good As Goalies Get

Oliver Ekman-Larsson #91 of the Florida Panthers checks Jack Roslovic #96 of the New York Rangers into the boards

Florida Panthers v New York Rangers – Game One

The Panthers Will Do Anything

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers looks on after a fight against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 20, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's kind of holding hands with the ref that's carting him away

Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Two

Matthew Tkachuk Is My Beloved American Girl Doll

EDMONTON, CANADA - JUNE 02: Fans cheer on the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the Western Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on June 2, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

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