Matthew Tkachuk Says Panthers Riding 'Underdog Role' in Stanley Cup Final vs. Oilers

The Florida Panthers looked like anything but underdogs as they dismantled the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, but they'll embrace the role against the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.

"Absolutely. We'll continue riding that underdog role. We have so far," Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk told reporters on Tuesday, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

The Panthers finished the regular season 47-31-4 with 98 points, entering the postseason as the No. 3 seed. The Oilers went 48-29-5 with 101 points, the No. 3 seed in the West.

Florida crushed the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before a hard-fought seven-game series against the top-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. In the conference final, the Panthers trounced the Hurricanes in five games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for a third consecutive year.

The Oilers have enjoyed a similarly dominant run, downing the Los Angeles Kings in six games before winning both the conference semifinal and final in five games.

Edmonton is the favorite to win the series, giving Tkachuk and the Panthers plenty of motivation as they look to embrace their underdog status.