3 Former Penguins Set To Square Off In Stanley Cup Final

   

Well, folks, it's all down to two teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

And both teams happen to be employing former Pittsburgh Penguins.

Penguins miss playoffs, goaltending, lack of depth among reasons | NHL.com

Earlier in the playoffs, we provided you with a comprehensive guide to former Penguins participating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now that it's offically down to three players between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, how has each player fared thus far?

Rodrigues did miss two games during Florida's second-round matchup to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injury, but otherwise, he has thrived.

The 31-year-old ex-Penguin - who was on the club's NHL roster for three seasons from 2019-22 - has registered a goal and 11 points in 15 games in a top-six role.

Suffice to say, Rodrigues is doing pretty well for himself in the sunshine state.

Even if it might not be in quite the same way, Kulikov has had a good run in the playoffs for the Cats.

 

He has a goal and four points to go along with a plus-1 in 17 playoff games, and he has provided a steadying presence on the bottom pairing's right side.

Kulikov wasn't a Penguin for long - he played in only six games post-deadline in 2022-23 due to injury - but he was always a solid depth option and has proven that in this year's postseason.

Kapanen did not even appear in a playoff game for the Oilers until Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.

But he's played an important role since.

The 28-year-old right winger - who was with the Penguins from 2020-23 until getting placed on waivers and claimed by the St. Louis Blues - has three goals in seven games since the first one, and this includes a series-clinching overtime goal against Vegas in Game 5.

The Finnish forward was earned his stay in the lineup as the Stanley Cup Final is set to begin Wednesday in Edmonton.

Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.