SUNRISE, Fla. — Finally, stunningly, it was over. Gloves and sticks flew in the air. Arms and bodies wrapped around each other. The Florida Panthers celebrated behind their goal at the center of the hockey world, their big night won, their long climb to the top done.

Move over, Miami Heat. Make way, you old Florida Marlins. Give some room, you ancient kings of the Miami Dolphins.

There’s a new champion in town.

The Panthers beat Edmonton, 2-1, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, and the accompanying emotion was more than joy over the franchise’s first championship or pride in the manner the Panthers played this final night.

It also was, in a word, whew.

That’s what the caption should have read above the rare air the relieved Panthers breathed as champions. Whew. They recovered from losing three straight games this series. Whew. They didn’t become the second NHL team and first since 1942 to blow a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final.

This became more than a hockey story as this series played out and the Panthers lost their series lead, frustrating game by game. It became a story of controlling demons and trusting talents. It became a story of a team’s determination, no matter what was thrown their way, even if was their collective anxiety felt tangible by the time Monday night arrived.

Can a building feel nervous? Amerant Bank Arena seemed to in the tense minutes before Monday’s game. That wasn’t helped by loud pockets of foreign cheers.

“Let’s go Oilers,’’ chanted the hundreds of Edmonton fans who made the cross-continental trip.

“Let’s go Panthers,’’ home fans chanted back.

...continued

©2024 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.