Panthers’ Marchand becomes second player to score five goals in two Stanley Cup Finals

A Hockey Hall of Fame status might’ve just been cemented.

With his fifth goal of this year’s Stanley Cup Final, Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand became just the second player in NHL history to score five goals in multiple championship series.

The goal came early in Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. Marchand beat netminder Calvin Pickard shortly before the halfway mark of the first period, giving him nine goals in the playoffs.

It was also the second time in the series that the 37-year-old had scored the opening goal. He found the back of the net in the first minute of Game 3, sparking a big night for the Panthers on their way to a 6-1 win.

Marchand joins Hockey Hall of Famer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Mario Lemieux. The legend scored five goals with the Pittsburgh Penguins in both the 1991 final against the Minnesota North Stars as well as the following year against the Chicago Blackhawks. The first time Marchand accomplished the feat was in 2011 when he helped the Boston Bruins capture the Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks.

The Halifax, Nova Scotia native has 19 points so far in these playoffs, matching his performance from that run 14 years ago. He’s only four points away from tying his career-best playoff output. That came in 2019 when Marchand finished tied with St. Louis Blues forward and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly for the most points in the playoffs.

Marchand’s impact on the Panthers can’t be overstated. Though he might be past his prime, he has been one of the most important players on a team trying to win a second straight championship. Since he joined the team after the trade deadline, he’s brought a level of experience and talent mixed with the infamous grit, quietly making him a Conn Smythe favorite.