'Quest For The Stanley Cup' sees Panthers, Golden Knights clinch

Two top contenders for the Conn Smythe Trophy, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and forward Matthew Tkachuk, and how Florida and the Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, were showcased during the fourth episode of "Quest For The Stanley Cup."

The show begins with Bobrovsky warming up for practice by taking shots from injured Panthers forward Patric Hornqvist, part of a long road for the two-time Vezina Trophy winner voted as the best goalie in the NHL (2012-13, 2016-17). The 34-year-old was on the bench for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs until replacing Alex Lyon for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Boston Bruins.

Bobrovsky allowed a combined six goals in Games 3 and 4 against the Bruins, which put the Panthers behind 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. He's since gone 11-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and one shutout in 12 games to emerge as arguably the favorite for most valuable player of the NHL postseason.

"Playoff hockey is the best hockey," Bobrovsky says. "It's pressure, the atmosphere in the rink, outside the rink. It's so much fun to be part of it, but as a goalie, your approach doesn't change, whether it's a preseason game or an Eastern Final game."

RELATED: [Learn more about "Quest For The Stanley Cup" | Full 2023 Playoffs coverage]

Bobrovsky and the Panthers embraced pressure throughout Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final at FLA Live Arena, which saw the Carolina Hurricanes rally from down 2-0 and 3-2, and Carolina forward Jesper Fast scoring at 16:38 of the third period to tie the game 3-3. Bobrovsky was the stabilizer, finishing with 36 saves, and Tkachuk the finisher when he scored with 4.3 seconds left in the third. Florida then waited for the situation room to uphold a review for goalie interference and won 4-3 to sweep the Hurricanes and secure the Prince of Wales Trophy.

Tkachuk scored his third-game winning goal of the conference final, his 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 16 games part of his Conn Smythe resume. He and Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov wasted no time defying superstition by touching the trophy and skating around the ice with it.

"It's a lifetime of work to get to this," Florida coach Paul Maurice told his players. "Thanks for digging in, because that's why you're here."

Tkachuk then headed south to Kaseya Center for Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Final between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat and a date with Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Kenny Smith as a guest on the "NBA on TNT Pregame Show." Before going live, Barkley and Miller reminded Tkachuk that the Heat, the No. 8 seed who had to win two play-in games to get into the NBA Playoffs, weren't expected to be there either.

The Golden Knights gave the Dallas Stars hope in the Western Conference Final, losing 3-2 in overtime of Game 4 with Stars coach Peter DeBoer referencing the Panthers coming back from down 3-1 against the Bruins. The Stars won 4-2 on the road in Game 5 and took more hope into Game 6 in Dallas, captain Jamie Benn returning from a two-game suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Golden Knights forward Mark Stone 1:53 into Game 3.

Benn, the Stars and fans inside American Airlines Center were taken out early in Game 6, the Golden Knights scoring three goals in first 14 minutes of a 6-0 victory and their second Stanley Cup Final appearance after a five-game loss to the Washington Capitals in their inaugural NHL season of 2017-18.

Stone, Vegas' captain, and his teammates did not touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, to the chagrin of coach Bruce Cassidy.

"I have zero superstition," Cassidy told forward Jonathan Marchessault. "You're superstitious, I know."

Episode 4 of "Quest For The Stanley Cup" premiered Friday on ESPN+ in the United States and YouTube.com/NHL in Canada and abroad. Episodes also will be reaired on ESPN2.