Before every home playoff game, the Florida Panthers invite a special guest to get the fans inside Amerant Bank Arena pumped up.
They do this by banging a massive drum to the beat of a Let’s Go Panthers chant.
So far during this year’s Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers have invited local sports stars Bam Adebayo from the Miami Heat and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor of Miami Dolphins fame to thrill the fans with their drumming skills.
We don’t know yet who will be in the spotlight before the Panthers host Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night, but there may have been a big clue left on social media.
Former Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo, a Hockey Hall of Fame member and current special assistant to Florida General Manager Bill Zito, was last on the drum almost exactly a year ago.
It was before last year’s Game 7 that Luongo was handed the mallet and let the emotions fly while urging the fans into a pregame frenzy.
The good luck charm worked, as Florida beat the Edmonton Oilers to claim the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, and his performance was given so much credit that Luongo was back banging it during Florida's championship parade.
Now the Panthers are in a similar situation, hosting the Oilers in Sunrise with a chance to claim the Cup with a win.
Will Florida bring back their lucky goalie before Game 6?
On Monday afternoon, Luongo took to social media to stir the rumor winds.
He posted a GIF of Will Ferrell banging on a drum set in the movie “Step Brothers” while posting the message, “Warming up in the bullpen.”
Warming up in the bullpen pic.twitter.com/UDhadbPOFQ
— Strombone (@strombone1) June 16, 2025
Does that mean Luongo will be back on the drum on Tuesday night, or will he simply be on standby, in the “bullpen” as it were?
We will find out on Tuesday night in Sunrise.
The puck is set to drop on Game 6 between the Cats and Oilers at 8 p.m. ET.
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Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Former Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo bangs the drum prior to the start of the during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)