Florida Panthers fans cheer the team during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers try to pounce and bounce back from their loss. CBS News Miami’s Steve Goldstein
SUNRISE — It was only one game in a lengthy 82-game season, but the Florida Panthers are a top-five NHL team.
But this team’s expectations are tremendous.
This season, the Eastern Conference champions from last year hope to win the Stanley Cup. That’s why the team, led by the head coach, is a little agitated after losing their first game following the All-Star break, at home to Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Paul Maurice understands the standard for his team. That is why, following a disappointing game against the Flyers, the Panthers coach expressed his views, without overreacting. He’s hoping for a better and smarter performance versus Washington on Thursday night.
Bounce Back Cats
The good news for the Panthers is that they have demonstrated an amazing ability to recover from losses and return to their game. Aside from finishing second in the Eastern Conference standings, the Panthers have been one of the NHL’s best teams this season after a loss.
Bob & Bieber
Sergei Bobrovsky made his second All-Star appearance last weekend in Toronto. It was his first time making it as a Panther. Justin Bieber is a great hockey enthusiast and a Canadian, so he was an obvious choice as one of the celebrity coaches. The two spoke briefly on the ice before one of the games, and Bieber created the All-Star jerseys.
Mr. Carter
With good cause, there’s a lot of chatter about Bobrovsky, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and this season’s breakout star, Sam Reinhart. Carter Verhaeghe, on the other hand, continues to shine while being relatively unknown. Verhaeghe scored 25 goals last game, after setting a career high of 42 last season. He is one of the league’s leading goal scorers, being among the top three in third period goals scored. Verhaeghe is a hound on a bone when it comes to the puck, and he has an incredible ability to swiftly tee up pucks to get the most out of his shots.
Cup Potential Preview
The Super Bowl is on Sunday, but the Panthers face Colorado on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise in a high-profile game featuring some of the league’s greatest players. Both teams have a legitimate chance of winning their conferences and competing for the Stanley Cup. The Panthers won the previous encounter this season, 8-4 in Denver.
