Florida “Opens” Carolina, “Everybody” Loses At Home In The “‘Offs”

“Everybody” loses at home and I believe there was that reminder here before the 31st and last NHL or NBA team did so as that manifested after the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers eased (5-2) at Carolina vs the Hurricanes in their “semis” opener. (The St. Louis Blues lost an all home first round series to the Winnipeg Jets, the latter scoring in the last second to tie #7 before winning, otherwise almost surely the Blues also would have lost at home in these ‘offs.)

A Florida NHL team has reached that league’s final round in each of the last 5 seasons and now “Fla,” the series opening slight “fave” is now an over 2 and a fraction such to make it 6. (The Tampa Bay Lightning made the final and won it in ’20 and ’21 before losing in 6 to the ‘Lanche (Colorado Avalanche) in ’22 while Fla 7’d Edmonton (Oilers) last year to win their first crown after being 5’d by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in ’23).

However, this series is far from over, though I strongly suggest “Caro,” in this series far from any bright, bright lights, however, being contested between 2 fine teams, win game 2 at home and end a 5 game semis loss streak (0-5 all-time as well) vs Florida.

Paul Maurice, the excellent coach of the current champion Florida Panthers, is pictured above.