Stanley Cup Final schedule is set: Panthers open series next Saturday, but await opponent

David Wilson
·2 min read
8

The schedule for the 2023 Stanley Cup Final is officially set and the Florida Panthers will begin their quest for a first Stanley Cup next Saturday.

They’re still waiting on their opponent, though.

The Stars beat the Golden Knights, 4-2 , on Saturday in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals to extend the series, which means the NHL will hold off until next weekend to start the Stanley Cup Final.

No matter who wins the West finals, Florida will begin on the road, either in Dallas or Paradise, Nevada. Vegas still leads the series 3-2 and can clinch its spot in the Cup Final on Monday in Game 6 at the American Airlines Center in Texas. The Panthers will host Games 3 and 4, and Game 6, if necessary.

Florida will now have a very long layoff before the Final after it swept the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals, closing out the series Wednesday. It will ultimately be a 10-day break for the Panthers and they’ll have at least a five-day rest advantage on their opponent.

If the Golden Knights had won Saturday to win the Western Conference in five games, the Final would have started Wednesday at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

All games in the Final will air on TNT.

Here’s the full schedule for the best-of-7 series:

  • Game 1: Saturday, June 3; T-Mobile Arena or American Airlines Center, 8 p.m., TNT

  • Game 2: Monday, June 5; T-Mobile Arena or American Airlines Center, 8 p.m., TNT

  • Game 3: Thursday, June 8; FLA Live Arena, 8 pm., TNT

  • Game 4: Saturday, June 10; FLA Live Arena, 8 p.m., TNT

  • Game 5: Tuesday, June 13; T-Mobile Arena or American Airlines Center, 8 p.m., TNT (if necessary)

  • Game 6: Friday, June 16; FLA Live Arena, 8 p.m., TNT (if necessary)

  • Game 7: Monday, June 19; T-Mobile Arena or American Airlines Center, 8 p.m., TNT (if necessary)