Panthers remain in comfort zone while waiting for Stanley Cup Final opponent, start date

NHL says Game 1 of SCF will be either Wednesday, May 31 or Saturday, June 3

The Florida Panthers took the day off on Friday, a rare occurrence during their march to the Stanley Cup Final.

Paul Maurice’s crew has gotten very comfortable in their postseason routines, whether it be a gameday or otherwise.

Day of game is all about being prepared, comfortable and confident.

Players arrive at the rink in the morning knowing they have full freedom to skate, not skate, lift, stretch…whatever they feel they need to be at their best when the puck drops that night. 

The days between games are great for recovery, off-ice training and video review, and short practice sessions that allow the players to stay sharp and work on little adjustments and tweaks that come with a long playoff run.

It’s a day-to-day mantra that has kept the Panthers loose and relaxed while obviously well-suited to accomplish everything they have to this point.

“I think for our guys, we just come to play,” said Panthers forward Eric Staal. “We love coming to the rink, we love being around each other, we love competing. We've got a group of guys that care a lot for each other and come out just to play the game.”

Two days have passed since Florida completed a stunning four-game sweep of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.

We are still waiting to find out who the Panthers will play in the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights or the Dallas Stars, and when the championship series will begin.

The NHL announced on Thursday that the Final would begin either on Wednesday, May 31 or Saturday, June 3 depending on when the west final ends.

Regardless, the Panthers are going to have some time to kill before they can resume their epic journey toward the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, and they’re embracing it just as they have everything else that has come their way over the past several months.

“When you’ve played so much hockey to this point, you’ve got to take advantage of every moment to rest and recover and regenerate,” said Panthers forward Sam Reinhart. “Obviously you get some bumps and bruises and guys banged up along the way, and you take a moment like this to really get back on track and hit the ground running when next series starts.”

Florida’s players were back at FLA Live Arena on Thursday, but there was no on-ice practice.

Maurice brought the team in for some quick meetings and an opportunity to get on the trainer’s table and or in the weight room or whatever each particular player felt they needed a day after wrapping up their third playoff series and punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.

“It's all about recovery,” said Panthers forward Nick Cousins. “Business as usual.”

After leaving the rink, Florida’s players, coaches, front office members, training and equipment staff…they all had a chance to enter into their respective comfort zones, a luxury not always afforded during a deep playoff run.

Whether that be visiting a favorite restaurant, a family activity day or just relaxing on the couch, it’s important for each person to return to some sense of normalcy. Hit that reset button and embrace the down time.

There is no concern that this group is going to lose focus on the task at hand, so recharging those batteries is essential.

It’s all a good time for reflection, something that should make every single one of those Panthers, player or otherwise, feel pretty darn good about themselves.

“It's okay, on your off days - a game day is a different kind of agenda, it’s wired, it's different - just to be happy about your day to day,” said Maurice. “Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow, and be completely present today.”

One of these days the Panthers will be able to start zeroing in on their next opponent.

Nobody is worried about or has a preference regarding which team, Vegas or Dallas, they end up facing in the Final.

Florida has already dispatched the top two regular season teams in the NHL and feel confident that if they continue playing the punishing, disciplined brand of hockey they’ve employed so far during the playoffs, their success will continue.

“We don't really care who it is against or where it's played, we just play,” said Staal. “That's why I think it's been so fun to be alongside these guys, because that's the feeling and that's the thought, no matter the situation, no matter the time of the game, no matter what's happening out there. Whoever we’ve got next, we'll be ready to play.”

It’s great to see from a group trying to reach the ultimate goal, the thing every hockey player dreams about from when they first put on skates.

The Panthers have somehow been able to balance the weight of a Stanley Cup run with the presence of mind to enjoy it as it passes by.

Now it’s just a question of whether they can finish the job.

“This is the time the time of year you dream of playing,” said Reinhart. “We're soaking it in, we're enjoying every moment, and really taking it one day at a time.”