panthers celebrate [608x342]
panthers celebrate [608x342] (Credit: (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images))

Chelsea sign teen Kellyman from Aston Villa

The Florida Panthers are NHL champions after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It marks the team's first NHL championship.

The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in the series, but stormed back to win three straight and force a decisive Game 7 in Florida. 

The Panthers struck first in the opening period with a goal from Carter Verhaeghe, only for Mattias Janmark and the Oilers to answer just over two minutes later. Sam Reinhart's goal late in the second period regained Florida's lead, which it held on to the rest of the night.

Florida, which lost to the Vegas Golden Knights last year, is now the third team in the expansion era (since 1968) to win the Cup the year after losing it. The Panthers are also the fourth expansion team over the past 40 seasons to win the Stanley Cup.

The sports world chimed in on social media with reactions to the Panthers' historic triumph.

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