Are the Panthers too relaxed after losing Game 1, or is this the calm before their comeback storm?

The Stanley Cup Final has returned with all the drama and intensity expected from a rematch between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Though Game 1 slipped away from the Panthers in overtime, confidence within their locker room remains unshaken. The Panthers, who have made three straight trips to the Final, are drawing strength from their postseason scars and vast experience as they prepare for a crucial Game 2.Edmonton’s opening win came after Florida was penalized for a puck over the glass — a moment that turned the tide and handed the Oilers a golden opportunity on the power play. But that moment hasn’t rattled Florida’s seasoned core. If anything, it’s brought out their trademark resilience.“We’ve got a lot of battle scars on us from the last few years, and we’ve been through way worse,” said forward Matthew Tkachuk. “We can be better, we can adjust a few things and come out tomorrow and try to get a win here and get some momentum going back home.”The Panthers know that even if they fall behind early in the series, it’s not the end of the road. They’ve already proven this postseason that comebacks are part of their DNA. Just ask the Toronto Maple Leafs — who watched Florida erase 2-0 and 3-1 deficits in the second round before storming to a seven-game series win.Players like Nate Schmidt, who joined the team more recently, are also soaking in the team’s gritty mentality. “This team, I think, has an incredible ability to be able to not only learn from what they’ve done and apply their experience into situations like this,” Schmidt shared.Head coach Paul Maurice remains calm and collected, reflecting the team’s veteran poise. He doesn’t see the need for wholesale changes. “It’s almost always an adjustment back to form: We were a little off here, we can be a little bit better,” Maurice noted. “Nobody’s changing a major system. It takes months and years to do that.”That stability has translated into results — 10 playoff series wins since 2022, with Tkachuk’s arrival and Maurice’s leadership forming the backbone of the team’s resurgence. The only bump? The 2023 Final loss to Vegas, a series marred by injuries, including Tkachuk’s broken sternum.But these lessons haven’t been wasted. “We learn more from adversity than we do from winning,” said Carter Verhaeghe. “It’s just sticking with it and being mentally strong.”As the Panthers aim to clean up tactical details like offensive zone time and capitalize on limited scoring chances, they’ll rely on the experience that’s carried them this far. Game 2 isn’t just about evening the series — it’s about reasserting the identity they’ve built through scars, setbacks, and relentless resolve.Also Read: Why is Matthew Tkachuk so sure the 2025 Stanley Cup will be better than last year’s intense finale?