The Florida Panthers arrived in Edmonton just 22 hours before the puck drop for Game 3.
The charter flight was delayed over three hours by monsoon-type weather in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area Wednesday. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the plane landed just after 8 p.m. MT.
“I rarely comment on a team’s travel plans but this is odd to me. I think they should have gone out on Tuesday,” Sportsnet’s Kelly Hrudey said. “I think this is a slight opportunity for the Oilers to get a great start in Game 3, maybe get all over them early.”
The Oilers and most media covering the series travelled on Tuesday. However, the Panthers opted to remain home an extra day to rest.
“We didn’t like the idea of getting them up (Tuesday) early enough to get in at a reasonable time in Edmonton. We did not see a value in it,” head coach Paul Maurice said, per Florida Hockey Now, following Wednesday’s practice. The bench boss added that he did not get home himself until after 1 a.m. local time following the Game 2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
The series between the Panthers and Oilers features the largest distance between two cities in Stanley Cup Final history, at 4,089 km.
The Panthers lead the series 2-0 as they look to win their first Stanley Cup. Game 3 from Rogers Arena takes place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. MT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
