The Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers are locked in an epic struggle for Eastern Conference supremacy in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Following a Florida win in Game 5, the Panthers are on the verge of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals to avenge last season’s disappointment in the final series of the NHL Season.
For the Blue-clad men from Broadway, the Rangers need to find a way to even up the series with a win tonight or they are clearing out the train station lockers next week.
The NHL has set the stage for a primetime NHL matchup with extremely high stakes between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers tonight. Will the series end this evening?
50 Games At Amerant Bank Arena For Florida Panthers
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The Florida Panthers have showcased that a successful hockey team will bring local fans to the building if that success is sustainable, particularly in back-to-back seasons. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reported ticket revenue in South Florida has doubled over the past two seasons.
The Sunrise, FL-based club has already shattered its attendance record this season. With a series win over the New York Rangers, the Florida Panthers will return to the Stanley Cup Finals. While a big event for any franchise, the Cats need to keep the momentum going in a fickle hockey match. Head coach Paul Maurice credits the organization that Florida has built over the last few seasons.
“If you win and you build a good program, you create an expanded fan base that isn’t necessarily then going to fluctuate with wins and losses all the time. You have to, over time, play an exciting game of hockey. But I’d like to feel that we’re part of something with deep enough roots that we would be considered a model franchise.”
Nobody called the Florida Panthers a “model franchise” with a typically half-filled arena two years ago. Yet here we are in the strange world of 2024 following the Cats’ recent success.
One Million Fans…. in South Florida…. In This Economy?
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If Florida does reach the Stanley Cup Finals again this season, the Florida Panthers would be on pace to break the one million fans threshold at Amerant Bank Arena in 2024. This would be the first time Florida has reached that figure during a single NHL Season. For context, the extremely unofficial average attendance two seasons ago showcased approximately 700,000 fans entering the turnstiles of the Miami-adjacent hockey rink.
Coach Maurice credits an entertaining brand of hockey leading to the fan turnout in South Florida.
“You have to play a style of game that if you’re going to spend your money and you’re going to go to the rink in February, you’ve got a real good chance of being entertained. And I think these men do that.”
New York Rangers Skaters Have Responded To Adversity Before
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Florida Panthers… Florida, Florida, Florida…. What about the Big Apple?! Almost 500 words, and I’ve read “New York Rangers” like two bleeding times! Not cool. Alright homie – I got you.
Facing elimination for the first time, New York skaters are not in an unknown position with their backs against the wall. Several players were involved in the 2021-22 NHL postseason when the Rangers overcame multiple-game series deficits during their playoff run to the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay.
There are 15 players on the New York Rangers roster, 13 of whom have played in this series, who were on the roster in 2021-22 when they faced elimination in multiple postseason series. They were down 3-1 in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a series they went on to win in seven games. They were down 3-2 in the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes, a series they went on to win in seven games.
New York Rangers head coach, Peter Laviolette, has a simple task for his team as they wake up this morning in preparation for Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.
“We’ve got to win a hockey game. There should be a lot of confidence in our team. We won 55 games in the regular season, won 10 games in the playoffs. Our group knows how to win hockey games. We’ve got to wake up tomorrow and win a hockey game.
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. He can be located on X for real-time takes (@CBabosWrites). With various roles in the sports industry over two decades, Chris can speak with authority on the topics he covers. Additional insightful sports articles are located here.
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