Panthers downplay Stanley Cup travel issues after storm drenches Florida

EDMONTON – Dylan Holloway learned the storm delayed the Florida Panthers’ trip north.

The Edmonton Oilers didn’t follow the weather system that enveloped the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area earlier this week, resulting in torrential rain, flooding and significant travel headaches.

Holloway also wasn’t upset to hear his team’s Stanley Cup opponent had his routine interrupted.

Despite there being a 48-hour gap between Games 2 and 3 of the finals, the Panthers chose to fly to the Alberta capital on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Oilers travel Tuesday after losing 4-1 on Monday to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven title series.

Wednesday’s Florida departure was delayed by more than three hours, with the team sitting on the tarmac waiting for the all-clear to take off.

The Panthers finally arrived in Edmonton shortly after 8 p.m. local time – about 22 hours before the puck was set for Game 3 on Thursday.

“I’ve definitely heard about it,” Holloway said with a small smile about the delay. “And not mad about it.”

Florida, not surprisingly, downplayed the longer travel day and quick turnaround.

“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” Panthers wing Matthew Tkachuk said. “It was pretty easy, to be honest.”

Head coach Paul Maurice said the only downside was the impact on the size of his staff.

“The coaches took seven pounds,” he joked. “That’s the only ramification – I ate 12 meals. (The players) got on the plane … they played cards, they laughed. Every time one of the coaches walked in and was soaked from head to toe, he got a standing ovation. .

“Just kidding, but there are some people struggling right now in Florida. It’s a serious thing that happened there. But our day was not serious”.

Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues suggested that strings must be pulled to get the team on the road.

“We’ve had some guys go behind the scenes to do things they don’t usually do to ground us,” he said. “Happy to finally take off.”

Rodrigues added that there is at least a little concern about the air rising.

“If we had to leave (Thursday) morning, we would have,” he said. “There are no excuses this time of year. We would accept the challenge. It was a unique experience.

“There was some serious rain coming.”

Hockey players are creatures of habit, but Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais said delays are nothing new.

“It’s part of the game,” he said. “When you travel for work, you’re going to get stuck somewhere. You just have to deal with it. Most guys that have played in the AHL, ECHL, those things happen every two or three weeks. You’re stuck somewhere, there’s traffic somewhere, the bus breaks down.

“You just roll with it.”

Holloway said the Oilers faced something similar to what the Panthers faced earlier this season when trying to get from St. Louis to Dallas.

“You’re on a plane all day,” he said. “It’s just gross. It’s just a long day, legs are a bit heavy.

“It’s definitely not fun.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 13, 2024.

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Joshua Clipperton, Canadian Press