Rangers’ Peter Laviolette Had In-Game Interview Upstaged by Shirtless Panthers Fan

June 2, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had his in-game interview with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan upstaged by a shirtless Florida Panthers fan during his team’s season-ending, 2–1 loss to Florida at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night.

While there likely weren’t many things making him laugh on Saturday night, Laviolette couldn’t help but chuckle as the young Panthers fan flexed his biceps in the background, making it nearly impossible for any viewers to focus on the interview.

“How about this guy behind us?” Laviolette said with a laugh.

“He likes the interview more than you do,” Kaplan, perfectly playing off of the situation, replied.

Here’s the funny moment, courtesy of Bleacher Report‘s account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The shirtless kid behind the Rangers bench is back, and Lavi chirped him on TV 😂 pic.twitter.com/619OkgZLhN

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 2, 2024

Laviolette proceeded to conduct the interview, as the young Panthers fan continued to go full muscleman in the background.

Then, after the interview was finished, the Rangers coach bumped the glass in front of the young fan before walking back to the bench.

Unfortunately for Laviolette, the flexing fan was the one who went home happy, as the Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, where they will await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Edmonton Oilers conference finals series, which Edmonton currently leads 3-2.

13 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Canadian Air Traffic Controllers Joke About Diverting Panthers Plane Ahead of Game 3

The Florida Panthers have proven a major headache for the Edmonton Oilers thus far in the Stanley Cup Final.

First, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky dominated Game 1 as Florida scored a 3-0 shutout win. Then, a big third period from center Evan Rodrigues paced the Panthers in Game 2.

Ahead of Game 3 Thursday in Edmonton, drastic measures appear to have been placed on the table. Among them: diverting Florida's team plane from Edmonton, as Canadian air traffic controllers joked about doing Wednesday.

"I've got about a two-hour hold for you, or whatever it would take that you'd be low enough on fuel that you'll have to divert from Edmonton," a controller said over the radio in audio posted by Andy Slater of WMEN-AM in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. "Mention it to your passengers, maybe they'll figure it out."

NEW: Florida Panthers pilots were jokingly told by a Canadian air traffic controller to run low on fuel so the team wouldn’t be able land in Edmonton.
Pilots from other flights join in on the conversation.
(h/t @JOSE97LUIS) pic.twitter.com/IlbauIcVJM
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) June 13, 2024

That appeared to be followed by authorization for the plane to land in Edmonton "against (the controller's) better judgment."

As Slater noted, pilots from other flights proceeded to join in on the conversation.

"Maybe you can divert them," one noted.

"I threatened them with a hold until they would have to divert," the original controller said, to laughter over multiple radios.

"The last call you guys need is (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman calling the (air traffic control)," one replied.

6 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Oilers vs. Panthers NHL Expert Prediction and Odds for Stanley Cup Final Game 1

The Edmonton Oilers are four wins away from ending Canada's Stanley Cup drought. The country is seeking its first NHL Championship since 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens were able to win it all.

Standing in their way is the Florida Panthers, a state that has now won five-straight Eastern Conference Finals, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning two Stanley Cups along the way.

Game 1 is set to take place on Saturday night and I'm here to break down everything you need to know to bet on the opening stanza.

Odds listed are via FanDuel Sportsbook

Spread

Moneyline

Total

Oilers Injury Report

Panthers Injury Report

Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner: All eyes will be on Connor McDavid, but I would argue the most important player in this game is the Oilers' goaltender, Stuart Skinner. When he brings his "A" game, the Oilers are near unbeatable, but he hasn't done that at times. Edmonton almost lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the second round almost solely due to poor play from Skinner. Whether or not they win the Cup may just come down to his performance.

Florida Panthers

Carter Verhaeghe: Carther Vergaeghe enters the Stanley Cup Final as the Panthers' leading scorer in the playoffs with nine goals. If the Panthers want to beat the Oilers, they need to find ways to score goals on a consistent basis and Verhaeghe may be the key to that happening.

I'm backing the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup and I like them to win the first game of the series, but my best bet is on the total. I like the UNDER 5.5.

The Oilers deployed a defensive style of play that helped them win Game 5 and Game 6 against the Dallas Stars. They sacrificed offensive rushes to stay home and while the puck was in their own end, they play a tight zone that forced the Stars to take low-quality shots from the perimeter. That helped Stuart Skinner as they prevented the Stars from getting high-danger scoring opportunities.

If they use the same strategy against a Panthers team, that plays a similar style to the Stars, we could be in for a low-scoring series.

Let's also remember the Panthers were one of the best defensive teams in the NHL during the regular season. They allowed just 2.39 goals per 60 minutes, the best mark in the entire league, while also giving up only 10.68 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, which ranked seventh.

I'll take the Oilers and the UNDER in Game 1.

Pick: Oilers (+114) and UNDER 5.5 goals (-104)

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here!

9 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Gets Panthers Fans Hyped for Game 1 As Only He Could

Wearing a white Florida Panthers jersey, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel made a special appearance at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

McDaniel led the Panthers' pregame festivities by banging the drum and encouraging the sellout crowd to chant "Let's go Panthers!" ahead of the puck drop. It went about as you'd expect.

Miami Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel bangs the drum for the Florida Panthers ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. 🏈🏒🥁 pic.twitter.com/GFzh4TjopK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 9, 2024

CHECK YOUR PULSE IF YOU’RE NOT FIRED UP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XAbgxwRQjk
— Bally Sports Florida: Panthers (@BallyPanthers) June 9, 2024

McDaniel's pregame efforts appeared to pay off, as the Panthers scored first on a goal by center Carter Verhaeghe just four minutes into the game. They scored again two minutes into the second period for a 2–0 lead when center Evan Rodrigues lit the lamp for his fourth goal of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Game 1 wasn't McDaniel's first time banging the drum at Amerant Bank Arena. He also did it last May before the Panthers' Game 4 matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final—which they won 4–3 to advance to the 2023 Stanley Cup final.

McDaniel will be able to enjoy the rest of the Panthers' Stanley Cup run, as his Dolphins wrapped up organized team activities and mandatory minicamp last week.

US Sports News

Rangers’ Peter Laviolette Had In-Game Interview Upstaged by Shirtless Panthers Fan

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