Flight issues for the Panthers heading out to Edmonton

At the start of the week, there was a significant monsoon in Florida and now Panthers insider George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports that it is affecting the team’s flight to Edmonton.

According to Richards, the “monsoon which has impacted South Florida the past two days is affecting the Panthers flight to Edmonton.”

He adds: “They are delayed, but expect to get there tonight.
Flight scheduled for 1 but many players and staff still at complex.”

The Oilers are already in Edmonton as the Panthers took an extra day in Miami. The Oilers boarded their flight back to Alberta for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday.

The delay is raising some concerns seeing that the Panthers need to make a six-plus hour flight 2,543 miles to the other side of the continent.

When they arrive in Canada, the Panthers will have momentum on their side as they hold a 2-0 series lead.
Historically speaking, teams that hold a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final are 49-5 all time.

While this stat is quite concerning for the Oilers, the delayed flight is not the only thing on the mind of the Panthers. Captain Aleksander Barkov’s presence for the third outing of the series remains unknown after he was knocked out of Game 2 midway through the third period following a hit from Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl.

Barkov was however on the ice and running the top line during practice on Wednesday morning before the team’s flight. His status for Game 3 will be known tomorrow prior to puck drop.