As the Florida Panthers vie for the Stanley Cup this June, their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, is also chasing a championship of its own. The Checkers clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Final after a narrow 3-2 win over the Laval Rocket on Tuesday, completing a sweep in their best-of-seven series. They now await the outcome of the matchup between the Abbotsford Canucks and Texas Stars, with Abbotsford leading that series 2-1.
The Stanley Cup Final will feature a high-stakes showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, two teams hungry for hockey’s top honor. Fans can catch all the action live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, as both teams prepare for what promises to be a thrilling series.
Florida Panthers and Charlotte Checkers Make History with Dual Finals Run in NHL and AHL PlayoffsRare Dual Final Appearance Highlights Florida’s Historic Postseason Run Across NHL and AHL Levels
This postseason marks a rare feat, as it is the first time since 2008 that an NHL organization has teams in both the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup Finals. Back then, the Pittsburgh Penguins and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, both reached their respective finals but ultimately fell short of winning the championships.
The last time both an NHL and its AHL affiliate captured titles in the same year was in 1995, when the New Jersey Devils and Albany River Rats accomplished the double victory. Prior to that, the Montreal Canadiens and Nova Scotia Voyageurs did it in 1976 and 1977, a remarkable back-to-back feat that underscores how rare and challenging such dual success is in professional hockey.
