It was the last game of the Stanley Cup Final. Without Matthew Tkachuk for Game 5, the Panthers' fate was almost a foregone conclusion. The result: a crushing defeat and the Stanley Cup for the Golden Knights. This defeat guarantees the ranking of the Canadiens' 2nd first-round pick. As a result, Kent Hughes will be able to draft at #5 and #31. It's small consolation for the Habs, who came within one win of the Penguins against the poor Blackhawks of having a second ball in the abacus. Instead, the Panthers made the playoffs, and the rest is history. One thing's for sure, when it comes to believing in your chances when you're in the playoffs, the 2023 Panthers and the 2021 Canadiens are clear proof!