When it comes to experience at playing hockey in June, the Florida Panthers have more than enough to go around.
Over the past three postseasons, the Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in each year.
A badly injured Panthers squad lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023, then Florida’s redemption arc came full circle when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games last year.
Now the Cats are back in the Final, once again facing the Oilers, in a series that begins on Wednesday night in Edmonton.
Being in these situations before, Florida’s players have learned the best ways to stay relaxed and focused on the task at hand without letting the pressure of the Final get in their heads.
One of those ways is by playing poker, a game many of Florida’s players will take part in during their team flights around the continent.
Apparently, as was revealed during Stanley Cup Final media day, the Panthers had quite a game going on their long flight to Edmonton this week.
“We had a poker game going. I don't know if you heard about it, but it gets pretty intense,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “(The) chips are flying.”
It’s no surprise that highly competitive hockey players can really get into their poker games.
As intense and contentious a good poker game can be, when its among good friends, they can be some of the best times ever.
“We played some poker, I lost a little bit of money today, which wasn't great, but we've got some long flights ahead of us to get it back,” Panthers center Sam Bennett said with a smile.
Based off several accounts, it sounds like one of the newest members of Florida’s rat pack had the best game on the flight out west.
“Yeah, I might’ve cleaned up,” smirked Panthers forward Brad Marchand. “The IRS might be coming after me after this one.”
“Marchy had a good trip,” added Verhaeghe. “I had a bad trip today, unfortunately. (It was) pretty bad. That's the thing with poker., it's just happens. Sometimes you can't do anything about it.”
Perhaps that’s true, but only until the next poker game.
The Panthers will be in Edmonton for a few days this week, then on Saturday they’ll board a plane for the long, cross-continent flight back to South Florida.
Will Bennett and Verhaeghe exact revenge on Marchand and earn some of their money back? We’ll have to wait and see, but according to Bennett, it wouldn’t be the first time.
“If you asked him about a week ago, he didn't do so well then,” said Bennett.
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Photo caption: May 14, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) gets congratulated after a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)