While the Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat have captured most of the spotlight over the past year, the Panthers have been methodically marching toward a second consecutive Finals appearance. Now, they stand 60 minutes of hockey away from bringing South Florida its first championship parade in the Big Four since the Heat trotted down Biscayne Boulevard following their defeat of the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals.
After picking up two wins to open the series at home, the Panthers traveled to Edmonton for a matchup in what was expected to be a Thunderdome atmosphere full of rabid Canadians all jacked up on maple syrup and Tim Hortons.
About that traveling part, though — because of heavy rain in South Florida, the Panthers had multiple flight delays. But when they did get near Edmonton airspace, they had to deal with an air traffic control man who had jokes. (Of all the people to have jokes, this is not a profession that requires a sense of humor.)
"I've got about a two-hour hold for you, or whatever it would take for you to be low enough on fuel that you will have to divert from Edmonton," the cheeky controller reportedly told the pilot of the Panthers' plane.
Once the Panthers were cleared to land and arrived on enemy ice, they started the game with a bang with a 4-on-4 goal courtesy of Sam Reinhart. Putting one on the board just before the first intermission on the road at Rogers Place was critical in changing the tone of the game.NEW: Florida Panthers pilots were jokingly told by a Canadian air traffic controller to run low on fuel so the team wouldn’t be able land in Edmonton.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) June 13, 2024
Pilots from other flights join in on the conversation.
(h/t @JOSE97LUIS) pic.twitter.com/IlbauIcVJM
Not two minutes into the second period, however, the Oilers got right back in the game on a breakaway goal off a missed Panthers opportunity. The score put the teams on even footing and Panthers fans back on blood pressure medication as the 2-0 series began to feel on the cusp of some important hockey.SAM REINHART SINKS HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SERIES.
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) June 14, 2024
Panthers up 1-0 to close out the first period!pic.twitter.com/ouxArXl8fM
After seven tense minutes, the Panthers let some air out of the room with a chaotic goal following a mishap by the Oilers goalie. The Vladimir Tarasenko goal injected life into the Panthers' bench, which would show on the scoreboard in the following moments.OILERS SCOREEE TO TIE IT UP ‼️pic.twitter.com/luGpo6hBm8
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) June 14, 2024
The Florida Panthers simply seem unstoppable at times. This was one of those times.
In the next five minutes, Florida broke the game wide open with a pair of textbook Mighty Ducks-looking goals from Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett that took a close game seemingly to a rout featuring an overmatched team and an inevitable champion.JUST A LIL VLADI MAGIC! pic.twitter.com/K5T3tgYPcp
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) June 14, 2024
Seemingly being the key word here. As some savvy readers may have noticed — the final score of this game was, indeed, not 4-1.
So easy! This is going to be fun! No stress at all, right? Right?Sam Bennett makes it 3-1 Panthers and Rogers Place is SILENT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TXNQYuzJSO
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 14, 2024
Sadly, no. The Oilers would score two goals of their own to cut the lead to one with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Florida, however, was able to hang on with some savvy defense, faceoff wins, and lots of good old-fashioned moves to push the puck against the board and sit on it.
One more win to go. Game 4 is Saturday night in Edmonton. Florida can close this puppy out with a sweep for the cup.
Only one NHL team has returned from a 3-0 deficit in the NHL Finals, and that was in 1942.
This is really happening.
