Florida Panthers' Home Opener and Championship Banner Raising on the Verge of Getting Canceled

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Tyler Ball
October 7, 2024 (6:18 PM)

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Today reports are starting to surface that the Florida Panthers could be forced to cancel their home opener against the Boston Bruins due to safety concerns.

The NHL season is set to kick off tomorrow afternoon with a three-game slate. Game 2 of the trio is scheduled to be the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers against the Boston Bruins. This game was set to be played but now could possibly have to be moved.

The state of Florida is currently preparing for a major emergency due to Hurricane Milton coming through much of the state. Hurricane Milton is expected to be one of the more sever hurricanes to come through the area in a long time. Due to this reports are confirming that Gary Bettman and the NHL are considering canceling the game.

This storm continues to potentially wreck the plans of the NHL after earlier today the league announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators would also have their game canceled. As of now, the Tampa Bay area is more directly in the path of Hurricane Milton than Boca Raton where the Florida Panthers play. However, there is still expected to be major weather problems throughout the entire state.

Florida Panthers banner raising could be postponed

The Florida Panthers were not only supposed to have their home opener on Tuesday but also to raise their Stanley Cup Championship banner The Panthers took down the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to earn the organization's first championship.

For the Boston Bruins, this postponement could actually work in their favor. The Bruins were planning to go into the season without goaltender Jeremy Swayman who was holding out for a new contract. After Swayman reached a contract extension with the Boston Bruins on Sunday he was expected to start without much practice time. If the game is canceled it will allow Jeremy Swayman more time to get up to speed before making his debut.

As this situation continues to develop and the NHL and Gary Bettman ultimately decide how to proceed we will bring the latest news to you.