RATS AND A FLYING CAT

The Panthers’ stunning run to the 1996 Stanley Cup final took off on Lindsay’s airborne goal

Eastern Caoguoatnifnesortet nacBseojsuqtsoutnaFrltoestrraifdinnada’sl AME 5 OF THE tfierasmt s’seriaets--inclfiensctheedrrduunrifnogr the Stanley Cup in 1996. It also produced ‘The Goal,’ still recgharisdeehdisatsotrhy.e greatest in francgharisdeehdisatsotrhy.e

From the start of the matinee on a sweltering Miami day, the

GPanthers looked to make quick wownoit-rhickeao“fdraotthmepinaBatrnuotiln”fsirk. setFpltoprebirduiaos’dys and gPoaaulsLbayusB. rBiaonstoSnkrushdilfatned the momentum with a powerplay goal late in the first and lseeacdtoined.itFlmorididwaayretgharionuegdhtthhee on Dave Lowry’s power-play goal late in the period, but Bostohne trheisrpdo. nded again at 12:29 of

Just over two-and-a-half smcionruetdesin wlahteart, wBoiulld Lbiencdosmaye a defining moment in team history. The winger collected the irnebthoeu ndeuftrroaml zoaneblaoncdkehdeasdheodt udpefeicnediwngit.hTaosnklyedRwayitBhoaugriqtauteidnugrinthgethfeutsuereiesH, aLlilndosf aFyatmhenr tBdheoefuerrnaqsrueem’fseaantlaosotfn-bdeitahctheoiancughtsieitdvheee.d slash at Lindsay’s left skate caused the winger to go airdboesrpneriantetlhye wlohwacskloedt. Laint dsthaye apufrFceklonrwziydh.ail’se pshauratdlloewl tno dtheefenicsee, sending it between Bill Ranford’s pads and the crowd into pthresweravye. dGotahleieleJoahdnthVeanrbeisetsbo-f rouck turned aside a last-second shot by Bourque, extendtinhgat lansteudnufonrtgileJtutnabel.e season