The Florida Panthers had never had the opportunity to lift the team’s first Stanley Cup at home, so this was unlike any other night they had spent in front of their own supporters.
20,000 red-clad admirers, some of whom had been waiting for this moment for 30 years, wished for a fairytale conclusion.
But athletics, the greatest unscripted reality show ever created, stepped in. Thud. And so, the once-safe-seeming Florida lead of 3-0 over the Edmonton Oilers in the Finals evaporated to a nerve-wracking 3-2, and the crowd that had come for a historic celebration turned numb and silent.
Tuesday night’s 5-3 loss sent the best-of-7 series back to Alberta, Canada for Game 6. Before this game, Panthers coach Paul Maurice had declared, “There’s no comfort in the playoffs, man.
” “Perhaps others find comfort.” That hasn’t existed for thirty years. For the next three days, he most definitely won’t have it.
