The Florida Panthers finally have a winning record for the first time in franchise history. After 2,519 regular-season games, plus an additional 132 in the playoffs, there have been some highs, two championships, and some lows like blowout losses in the Stanley Cup Final. Still, the Panthers turned Florida, a place no one ever thought hockey would thrive, into one of the country’s great hockey markets, filled with passionate fans who have stuck with the Cats through the highs and lows. Today, we dive into the franchise’s record book to revisit the biggest victories and most lopsided defeats in both the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Florida’s Best Regular Season Win
February 5, 2008 - Florida 8 v. Toronto 0
Naturally, the Panthers' best regular season victory came against their Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. In early February 2008, the club rolled into Air Canada Centre and shut out the Original Six franchise 6-0 behind a Richard Zednik hat trick and five points from Brett McLean. Zednik opened the scoring in the first with a power play goal, while Nathan Horton, Olli Jokinen, and Cory Murphy padded the lead to 4-0 after two periods. Steve Montador made it 5-0 before Zednik tacked on two more power play goals while McLean scored to cap off a three-point third period. Between the pipes, Tomas Vokoun stopped 24 shots for the win, while Vesa Toskala and Andrew Raycroft surrendered four goals apiece. Overall, 10 out of the 19 Florida skaters had a point.
Panthers’ Best Stanley Cup Playoff Win
May 18, 2025 - Florida 6 v. Toronto 1
The most goals Florida has ever scored in a playoff game is seven, in 2023 when they beat the Boston Bruins 7-5. However, their largest postseason margin of victory is only five goals, a feat they achieved on six occasions. When choosing which of those contests deserves the top spot, there’s no need to look past Game 7 of the Eastern Second Round against the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.
After getting shut out on home ice in Game 6 by a 2-0 score, the Panthers got goals from Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, and Jonah Gadjovich before the game was ten minutes old. Although Toronto got a goal from Max Domi to start the third, Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart extended Florida’s lead before Brad Marchand ended the night with an empty-net goal. He led all players with three points, tied with Luostarinen, while Sergei Bobrovsky made 19 saves in the win. At the other end, Joseph Woll stopped only 28 shots in the defeat.
Florida’s Worst Regular Season Loss
January 11, 2003 - Washington 12 v. Florida 2
Despite having the legendary Mike Keenan behind the bench, the Panthers suffered their worst regular-season defeat, 12-2, at the hands of the Washington Capitals in 2003. Led by the ageless Jaromir Jagr, who led all players with seven points, the Capitals had a 9-0 lead before Florida got on the board in the third period. In addition to the 14 goals, the two teams combined for 102 penalty minutes, with fights and misconducts in the first two periods. In the box score, four Panthers had points, while Washington had 13 players with points. Veteran Olaf Kolzig turned away 24 shots in the win, while Jani Hurme gave up eight goals and Roberto Luongo surrendered four in relief. Thanks to a hat trick and four assists, Jagr compiled his second and final seven-point game.
Panthers’ Worst Stanley Cup Playoff Loss
June 15, 2024 - Edmonton 8 v. Florida 1
In the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, the Colorado Avalanche destroyed the Cinderella Panthers 8-1 in Game 2, before ending the series in four games. Almost two decades later, the Edmonton Oilers duplicated that score in a pivotal Game 4. On the verge of winning their first-ever championship, Florida got a rude awakening at Rogers Place on June 15, when Connor McDavid erupted for four points to breathe life into a lifeless Oilers club down 3-0 in the series.
In the win, Edmonton got points from 15 different players, eventually chasing Bobrovsky after five goals and 24 minutes. In relief, Anthony Stolarz gave up three goals, as the Oilers would eventually force a Game 7 and lose at Amarant Bank Arena on June 24. Even though the Panthers once gave up nine goals in a playoff game, Game 5 of the 2023 Final to Vegas, it wasn’t as much of a blowout as this matchup against the Oilers.
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