Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers just completed what many believed to be impossible for the franchise. By virtue of their Game 7 win over the Edmonton Oilers Monday night, the Panthers earned their first Stanley Cup title since entering the NHL all the way back in 1993.
It was not easy for Florida. The team jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before Edmonton came back and tied the series at three.
With these Panthers facing the real possibility of being on the wrong end of sports history by blowing a 3-0 series lead, they came out to play big time Monday in front of their home crowd.
Despite a strong push by Edmonton in the final minutes, Florida came out on top by the score of 2-1. It was an electric scene inside Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.
Apparently, the Panthers are not wasting any time celebrating. Just one day later, and they were on the beach in Florida to celebrate the franchise’s first ever cup. How? By bringing the Stanley Cup Trophy into the Atlantic Ocean. We’re not joking. Check this out in all of its glory.
That’s some pretty daring stuff right there. You’ve read about the sharks off the coast of Florida, right? What about rip tides that could have taken the cup out to sea, never to be seen again?
Related: Woman Who Went Viral For Flashing During Edmonton Oilers Game Calls Out Haters
Florida Panthers Party In Style As Canada’s Misery Continues
As the Panthers were celebrating, their friends to the north were left wondering what happened. By virtue of Edmonton’s seven-game series loss to Florida, a Canada-based NHL team has not won the Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens all the way back in 1993.
To add insult to injury, Oiles star Connor McDavid came away with the Conn Smythe as the MVP of the playoffs.
“It sucks. It sucks,” McDavid said after the Game 7 loss.
As for the Florida Panthers, Tuesday’s celebration did not end with Tkachuk hauling the Stanley Cup into the Atlantic.
