Panthers Eliminated from Playoffs After Back-to-Back Cup Wins

Florida's injury-plagued season ends with a 9-4 loss to the Penguins.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:42pm

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The Florida Panthers, who won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, have been officially eliminated from the 2026 NHL playoffs after a 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This marks the first time since 2022 that the Eastern Conference will be represented by a different team in the Stanley Cup Final.

Why it matters

The Panthers' elimination ends their reign atop the NHL, which saw them become the first team to win consecutive Stanley Cups since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. Their inability to make the playoffs this season is largely attributed to a rash of injuries that plagued the team throughout the year, including key players like Aleksander Barkov, Seth Jones, and Brad Marchand.

The details

The Panthers' downfall began before the season even started, when Barkov tore his ACL and MCL in training camp. Other significant injuries included Jones breaking his collarbone and Marchand being shut down for the season. In total, players like Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek, Dmitry Kulikov, and Matthew Tkachuk all missed extended time, preventing the team from finding consistent success.

  • The Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.
  • Aleksander Barkov tore his ACL and MCL at the start of the 2025-26 training camp.
  • Seth Jones broke his collarbone during the 2025-26 season and missed 26 games.
  • Brad Marchand was shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season last month.
  • The Panthers were officially eliminated from the 2026 playoffs after a 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 5, 2026.

The players

Aleksander Barkov

The Panthers' star center who tore his ACL and MCL at the start of the 2025-26 training camp, dealing a major blow to the team's playoff hopes.

Seth Jones

The Panthers' defenseman who broke his collarbone during the 2025-26 season, causing him to miss 26 games.

Brad Marchand

The Panthers' forward who was shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season last month due to injury.

Sam Bennett

A Panthers forward who acknowledged the team's frustration with being eliminated from the playoffs but emphasized the importance of sticking together as a group.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The team that defeated the Panthers 9-4, officially eliminating them from the 2026 NHL playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, no one's happy about the situation. But it's about really just sticking together as a team and going through this as a team. We're all sticking together. It's not fun sometimes. But we're just trying to make the best of it.”

— Sam Bennett, Panthers Forward

“I think we all know … how good this hockey team is. We know how good we're going to be when we have everyone healthy and everyone back. So there's obviously a ton of excitement, I think, in anticipation for next year.”

— Sam Bennett, Panthers Forward

What’s next

The Panthers will look to regroup and come back stronger next season, with the hope of returning to full health and reclaiming their spot atop the NHL.

The takeaway

The Panthers' elimination from the playoffs this season serves as a stark reminder that even the most dominant teams are not immune to the challenges of injuries and adversity. However, the team's confidence in their ability to bounce back and reclaim their championship form next year suggests that this setback may only be temporary.