2 teams, 2 chances at titles: Heat, Panthers ready for their finals tests

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The Florida Panthers pose with the Prince of Wales trophy after winning Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

DENVER ā€“ They were No. 8 seeds. They barely got into the playoffs after up-and-down regular seasons. They had to face the No. 1 overall seeds in Round 1 of the postseason. They had to win Game 7s in Boston just to keep their seasons alive. They are Eastern Conference champions. They are each four wins from a championship.

This is the story of the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers.

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And it could have an ending like none other.

Thereā€™s never been a season where one city ā€” or one metro area, in this case ā€” has gotten to celebrate both winning both the NBA title and the NHLā€™s Stanley Cup. There have been nine previous tries; in two cases thereā€™s been an NHL title and no NBA crown, in three cases thereā€™s been an NBA title and no NHL crown, and in the four other cases both teams have lost.

South Florida has a chance to change that. Larry, meet Stanley. Stanley, meet Larry.

ā€œThat would be insane. ā€¦ If that would ever happen, that would truly be unbelievable,ā€ said Florida star Matthew Tkachuk, who had three game-winning goals for the Panthers in their East finals win over Carolina. ā€œItā€™s just great how both fan bases have been able to root together.ā€

Itā€™ll continue to be that way. The NBA Finals start in Denver on Thursday night with the Heat taking on the Nuggets; the Stanley Cup Final starts in Las Vegas on Saturday night with the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Panthers.

There could be as many as 14 championship-series games involving the Heat and Panthers in a span of 19 days. Starting Thursday, there will be eight games in a span of 10 days ā€” no game for either sport on June 2, no game for either sport on June 6, and four games in a four-night span in South Florida starting June 7. And thereā€™s never two games on the same night, either.

ā€œI know itā€™s fun to watch,ā€ Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. ā€œIā€™m not sure what theyā€™re doing, but itā€™s 5-on-5, right? I get that. Thereā€™s a connection now between the two teams through sports fans down here. So, thereā€™s hockey fans that are probably like me, but now theyā€™re dialed into that because itā€™s just a great story. And itā€™s fun to be a part of it.ā€

PANTHERS ROAD

Got into playoffs as second wild-card from Eastern Conference. Beat Boston 4-3 in Round 1 (winning a Game 7 in Boston), beat Toronto 4-1 in Round 2, beat Carolina 4-0 in East finals.

HEAT ROAD

Got into playoffs after winning second play-in game. Beat Milwaukee 4-1 in Round 1, beat New York 4-2 in Round 2, beat Boston 4-3 in East finals (winning a Game 7 in Boston).

PAST INSTANCES OF TWO FINALISTS

1957: Boston Celtics win NBA Finals, Boston Bruins lose Stanley Cup Final.

1958: Celtics and Bruins both lose.

1972: New York Knicks lose NBA Finals, New York Rangers lose Stanley Cup Final.

1974: Celtics win, Bruins lose.

1980: Philadelphia 76ers lose NBA Finals, Philadelphia Flyers lose Stanley Cup Final.

1992: Chicago Bulls win NBA Finals, Chicago Blackhawks lose Stanley Cup Final.

1994: Knicks lose, Rangers win.

2003: New Jersey Nets lose NBA Finals, New Jersey Devils win Stanley Cup Final.

2016: Golden State Warriors lose NBA Finals, San Jose Sharks lose Stanley Cup Final.


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