The team’s plane finally took off, arrived late in Edmonton, and got the Panthers to their hotel less than 24 hours before Game 3 against the Oilers. The travel complications were the main topic of conversation during their morning skate on Thursday, with players and coach Paul Maurice trying to minimize their impact.
Swedish defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson mentioned, “Everyone else is blowing it out of proportion. We arrived three hours later than planned, but we managed to accomplish everything we needed to before bedtime. Weather is something we can’t control, so we just focused on what we could control. It wasn’t a major issue.”
The NHL had scheduled an extra travel day due to the significant distance between the two teams – the farthest separation in league history, spanning 2,543 miles (4,092 kilometers) between their home arenas. Typically, teams fly directly to the next city after Game 2, but the Panthers chose to spend an additional night at home.
Maurice stated, “We have a team of experts who have well-thought-out reasons for our decisions. It’s all based on logic, and I completely support it.”
Upon arrival, air traffic controllers in Edmonton jokingly informed the pilots that they might delay landing long enough to necessitate diverting to another airport, amusing everyone onboard.
Before and during the flight, there was much laughter and camaraderie. Equipment managers returning from loading gear received standing ovations despite being soaked, and the food was plentiful.
Maurice added, “The only consequence was that the coaches gained seven pounds. We ate 12 meals.”
During the flight, many engaged in card games, with poker being a popular choice. Finnish forward Anton Lundell shared, “Those who played cards had extra time to enjoy some games. Everyone had a great time, got a good night’s sleep, and had a productive practice session.”
The Panthers’ practice included Aleksander Barkov, who returned after leaving Game 2 following a hit from Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, alleviating any concerns about his availability. The team focused on their usual gameday routine and used the travel delays as a source of motivation.
Evan Rodrigues, who scored three goals in the first two games, remarked, “We embrace challenges and adversity and view it as an opportunity for team bonding. It was a unique experience, and we were content to arrive safely.”
Edmonton’s Dylan Holloway showed little sympathy for the Panthers’ late arrival, indicating that he was not bothered by the situation.
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