The Panthers Lost Again But The Series Doesn't Start Until The Home Team Loses A Game

It’s never ideal to start a series down 2-0, but as the old saying goes a series doesn’t really start until the home team loses a game. So in my eyes it’s still 0-0. The Florida Panthers haven't lost on home ice yet, so there’s no need to panic at least not yet.

Now, if the Cats drop Game 3 or 4 in Sunrise, I’ll admit I’ll be slamming the panic button like a $3 happy hour beer. But until then I’m staying calm. This team earned the nickname “Cardiac Cats” for a reason, they always find a way to make things dramatic. If playoff hockey were easy, everyone would be doing it. We’ve already clawed our way back from a 3-1 series deficit against Boston. This isn’t our first rodeo, and we know what it takes to rally. If any team is built for this moment, it’s the Florida Panthers. There’s no way our scumbag rat fucks let us get dog walked at home. Chucky, Sammy, Marchy, Carter, and Barry will not let us roll over and quit.

That said, I’ve got to give the Toronto Maple Leafs some serious credit. They are playing their hearts out, and this series has been nothing short of electric. Every time the Panthers manage to swing momentum in their favor, the Leafs come storming right back. It’s been a back and forth battle that has given me nothing but anxiety and my newly transplanted hair follicles falling out of my head. I can recall two, maybe even three moments where Florida scored and Toronto responded in less than a minute. It’s been that kind of series fast, fierce, and emotionally draining.

Sometimes, the puck just doesn’t bounce your way, and that’s part of the game. But here’s the thing, the Panthers haven’t looked outmatched. They haven’t looked like a lost cause. They’re playing good hockey they’re just on the wrong end of a few breaks. And if I know anything about this team, it’s that they thrive when their backs are against the wall.

Heading back to Sunrise for Games 3 and 4, I’m confident the Playoff P’s will show up in full force. Home ice, a fired up crowd, and a team that knows how to dig deep when it matters most? That’s a recipe for a cardiac cats.

So no, I’m not panicking. Not yet. The series is far from over. The Florida Panthers are still very much alive and if history has shown us anything, it’s that you can never count the Cats out.