Panthers and Oilers turn to poker and Mario Kart on long flights in the Stanley Cup Final
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are spending nearly as much time flying as they are playing games during the Stanley Cup Final between the two farthest apart teams in NHL history
When the Florida Panthers' first flight of the Stanley Cup Final was delayed, it meant extra time on the tarmac before the nearly six-hour trek across North America.
As forward Anton Lundell joked upon arrival, “The guys who played cards had a little bit more time to win or lose some money.” Don't worry, there was already plenty of time for that already.
In this series with the longest distance between teams in Cup final history, the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are spending nearly as much time in the air as they are on the ice playing games. Players have taken to poker and other card games, Mario Kart and more to get through the trips and bond even more late in a long season.
“We spend a lot of time on that plane,” Edmonton captain Connor McDavid said. “But we have a good time. There’s guys who are playing cards or guys who are playing (Nintendo) Switch or guys who are just napping. There’s a bunch of different guys that are up to different things, but we pass the time anyway.”
