FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers got some practice in at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale before flying north Thursday as they hope to secure a Stanley Cup victory in Game 6 against Edmonton Friday night.
Ahead of the game, the team has been sticking to is usual training routine.
Head Coach Paul Maurice says they are treating this next game no differently, doing what works for the team, with no extra stressors or differences. Thursday’s training, for example, was just 19 minutes.
Local 10 News’ Will Manso was at the airport when the Panthers’ bus arrived in front of Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton.
The Panthers have arrived in Edmonton. Game 6 is just over 24 hours away. #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/g8WfYOZhYi
— Will Manso (@WillManso) June 20, 2024
Maurice said it’s all about finding a good rhythm for Game 6. He says he loved Game 5 and that the Stanley Cup Finals, in general, has been a learning experience for everyone.
He said that it has taken some time to get comfortable.
“We learn how to do this, we learn how to feel it, so I’m not trying to fight the word ‘pressure,’” Mauirce said. “There is certainly a lot of energy to be had and to be collected and to learn how to focus that energy. I thought we did that in Game 5.”
Player Evan Rodrigues spoke about how the team won a game earlier during this series in Edmonton and how they’ll try to find similar success in a hostile environment.
“You know, it’s easy at home to use the fans to get you motivated, but I think if you look at it with a certain frame of mind, you can use the opposing crowd’s energy and use it as fuel to get you going and have fun with it and enjoy it,” Rodrigues said. “I think that will be key for us.”
Many fans are hoping the team comes back from Canada holding the Stanley Cup high. The Panthers will have another practice run Friday morning in Edmonton before the big game.
It airs at 8 p.m. right here on Local 10.
Hockey fans can also tune in to Local 10′s Chasing the Cup pre-game show starting at 7:30 p.m.
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