Tonight, without a doubt, will be the most amazing opening night in the history of the Florida Panthers.
Weather permitting, of course.
After a summer of celebrating, thousands of photo ops with the Stanley Cup, and Monday night’s toned-down championship ring ceremony were just preludes to the start of the new season.
During the many leanyears,the opener consisted of neat graphics and an introduction of that season’s players and coaches.
Ho hum.
It was another start to a season for South Florida’s forgotten team.
The house was generally less than full.
That will not be the case later today.
Tonight’s game against the rival Boston Bruins has been sold out for months — a stark contrast to their opener a decadeago when the first game against New Jersey drew 11,419.
In selectedyearspast, there was a celebration ofsorts with the raising of a banner, whether it was for winning the division, the Eastern Conference, of the NHL Presidents’ Trophy.
There wasn’t muchrealcelebrating because each home openerfollowed a disappointing playoff loss.
Not this one.
“We’re ready to go, get the season going,’’ Dmitry Kulikov said. “This is an exciting new journey. We are proud of what we did last year, and that banner is going to be a testament to what we did last year. We put in a lot of hard work for that. But we have put in a lot of hard work for this. It’s a new journey.’’
Last season featuredone of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory.
The last time the Final went seven was whenSt. LouisbestedBostonin 2019.
The last time a single goal decided Game 7 was 2009 when PittsburghtoppedDetroit for the Cup.
One must go all the way back to 1971 for the last time Game 7 was decided by a single goalandthe winning goal broke a tie score, as was the case with Sam Reinhart’s second-period goal which ended up besting the Oilers.
In 1971, it was Henri Richard’s third-period marker which gave the Canadiens a 3-2 comeback victory over the Blackhawks.
The Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference championship banners are already in place in the Amerant Bank Arena rafters.
The big one, the first and only in Panthers’ history,goes up tonight pregamewith much fanfare.
The Stanley Cup will be in the building for all to see and officially end the celebration.
The Panthers will turn toward the new season — and a new challenge.
For coach Paul Maurice, raising achampionshipbannerhas finally come to fruition.
“It will be special.You’ll remember what it feelslike because I haven’t experienced it,” Maurice said Monday.
“To stand behind the bench and have all the rightbanners go up. Not missing a banner.Not short one. That’s going to be great, but I’m looking forward to the hockey. It’s great that it’s Boston.”
As forthe game itself,unless you have been on Mars during the last two playoffs, you will know that these two teamsdonot like each other.
The Panthers’ dramatic elimination of the Bruins from theplayoffsthe past two seasons contributes to the hate.
Per Maurice, “We played this team 21 times in the last twoyears, and they’vebeen 21 amazing games in terms ofintensity and physicality. The series last year was as heavy a series as I’ve ever coached. It was a hard, physically demanding seriesas we played in the entire playoffs. … It’s a fitting start.”
The Bruins will be looking for retribution while the Panthers start a new quest for the Cup.
Weather permitting, of course.
GAME 1 ON DECK
BOSTON BRUINS @ FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- National TV: ESPN
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/Fort Lauderdale); WHDT 9 (West Palm); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/Fort Myers)
- Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL app
- Last Regular Season (Bruins Won 4-0) — At Boston:Bruins 3, Panthers 2 OT (Oct.30); Bruins 3, Panthers 2 OT (Ap. 6). At Florida:Bruins 3, Panthers 1 (Nov. 22); Bruins 4, Panthers 3 (March 26).
- 2024 EC Semifinal (Panthers Won 4-2) — Game 1: Boston 5, @Florida 1; Game 2: @Florida 6, Boston 1; Game 3: Florida 6, @Boston 2; Game 4: Florida 3, @Boston 2; Game 5: Boston 2, @Florida 1; Game 6: Florida 2, @Boston 1.
- All-time Regular Season Series: Boston leads 64-37-7, 6 ties
- All-time Postseason Series: Florida leads 3-0 (1996 1st, 2023 1st, 2024 2nd)
- Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday at Ottawa, 7 p.m. (Local TV)