The Florida Panthers achieved a historic milestone on Tuesday night, becoming only the third team in the salary cap era (since the 2005-06 season) to claim back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Their victory also marked them as the fourth team in NHL history to defeat the same opponent in consecutive years to secure the championship trophy.
So, how does a team commemorate winning its second straight Stanley Cup? For the second year in a row, the Panthers, accompanied by the revered trophy, headed to the renowned Elbo Room bar in Fort Lauderdale.
As dawn broke, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov made his arrival at the scene in a police vehicle, proudly carrying the Stanley Cup.
Speaking from the back seat during an interview, Barkov shared his thoughts: “`Let`s enjoy this, but a three-peat is a very good possibility.`”
Matthew Tkachuk, Gustav Forsling, Barkov, and many other players were spotted bringing the trophy inside the famous beachside establishment in the early hours of Wednesday morning. It`s quite probable that the team hadn`t gotten any sleep since clinching their victory in Game 6.
A large portion of the Panthers roster eventually gathered at the Elbo Room, lifting the Stanley Cup for the fans who had gathered to watch from the bar`s balcony overlooking S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Players were even seen pouring beer into the Cup and sharing it with the cheering crowd below.
Following their 2024 Stanley Cup win, Tkachuk famously took the iconic trophy for a brief swim in the Atlantic Ocean. This year, however, that specific celebratory act wasn`t repeated, as the NHL reportedly made it clear the Stanley Cup was not permitted to enter the ocean after the events of the previous year.
While the celebration at the Elbo Room on Wednesday was memorable, it won`t be the only public event for the team and their fans.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis has confirmed that the official championship parade is scheduled for Sunday. The celebratory procession is expected to travel along Fort Lauderdale beach and commence around noon.
Last year`s championship parade in 2024 drew an estimated crowd of at least 200,000 fans.
