There's something about this season that just feels different.
On the heels of a 96-point campaign - the third-best in franchise history - the Florida Panthers are less than a month away from returning to the ice for their first preseason game of the 2018-19 season - a doubleheader against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 17 at BB&T Center.
5 Panthers Home Games You Can't Miss in 2018-19
In speaking with players throughout the summer, it's clear that the sour taste from last season's finish still hasn't washed out of their collective mouths. Despite going on an astounding 25-8-2 run to close out the regular season, they still fell just one point short of a spot in the playoffs.
"You just keep looking back at which games you could have done a better job, play better, make an extra save, get an extra point somewhere," goaltender Roberto Luongo said in April. "That's the type of stuff that goes through your mind right now."
But that was then, this is now.
Eager to move on from last season's shortcomings and build off their stellar second half, the Panthers will enter the upcoming season with a chip on their shoulder, ready to come out of the gate hot and prove that they're no longer the team of the future, but rather the present.
In short: it's playoffs or bust for these Panthers, and they're up to the challenge.
"We're at the point now where we feel that it's time that we can't use any excuses," forward Nick Bjugstad said earlier this month. "Everything's been laid out in front of us and it's ours for the taking. We've been around a while. No one is getting their feet wet anymore. We've been here and know what it takes."
With that in mind, and with single-game tickets going on sale on Wednesday, here are five hand-picked home games that you simply don't want to miss during what promises to be a season for the ages in Sunrise.
1. THE START OF SOMETHING BIG (Thursday, Oct. 11)
There's nothing quite like the first home game of the season.
After opening up their campaign in Tampa Bay on Oct. 6, the Panthers will return to Sunrise to kick off their 2018-19 home slate with a matchup against Columbus on Oct. 11 - the first of 40 regular-season games that will be played at BB&T Center this season.
With the sting of last season's late elimination still fresh in their minds - especially the slow start blamed for putting the team in that dire position - I'd expect Florida to hold nothing back against a Blue Jackets squad they spent the final month of last season frantically attempting to overtake in the wild card standings (Columbus finished with 97 points, one more than the Panthers).
In pointing to their 25-8-2 record that propelled them to the cusp of the playoffs last season - "That's the number we keep coming back to," Aaron Ekblad said in July - the Panthers are eager to prove the team that took the league by storm during the second half was no fluke.
Recent history would also suggest that the red light will be in heavy use this game, as few teams in the league have been as dominant in their first home game over the past several seasons. Since 2010, Florida has won seven of its last eight home openers, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 34-17 in those contests -- that's 4.25 goals per game!
Also, given that it's the team's 25th anniversary season, I'd expect a surprise or two at the arena.
2. LUONGO'S LEGACY (Saturday, Oct. 13)
This is a moment we've been waiting an entire summer to celebrate.
The Panthers will kick off their year-long "Legacy Saturdays" campaign by celebrating Roberto Luongo's 1,000th NHL game when Vancouver visits BB&T Center on Oct. 13. The 39-year-old hit that storied mark last season, becoming just the third goaltender in league history to do so.
In reaching the 1,000-game plateau, Luongo joined NHL Hall-of-Famers Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy as the only netminders to ever surpass the century mark. Upon his debut on Oct. 9, 2000, the feat was actually still unheard of, as Roy did not reach 1,000 games until Jan. 20, 2003.
A three-time nominee for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender, Luongo is without question one of the most-storied players in Panthers history. He's not only the club's all-time leader in wins (212), shutouts (37) and saves (15,003), but also likely a future NHL Hall of Famer.
In the midst of a late-season playoff run, Luongo made the decision to forgo any sort of formal celebration of his achievement last season, believing that it could be a distraction for his team.
"I spoke about it with the team and wanted to make sure that it was done at the appropriate time Luongo said in April. "I felt that, right now, we're focused on a playoff push and it wasn't the right time for me. I didn't want to be a distraction for my team."
Well, now it's officially the appropriate time.
3. AN ARENA NOT FAR, FAR AWAY (Saturday, Dec. 1)
What's better than enjoying some hockey in a galaxy far, far away?
The Panthers will host their fourth-annual Star Wars night on Saturday, Dec. 1, when Tampa Bay visits BB&T Center for an interstellar showdown of intrastate rivals. Whether you need to take an X-Wing, Y-Wing, TIE Fighter or Millennium Falcon to get there, this is a game you can't miss.
While specific details on this year's event are still forthcoming, it's safe to say that there will be no shortage of Stormtroopers, Wookiees, Jedi and Sith in the arena. And while we don't accept Republic Credits, the photo opportunities alone make this ticket a must-buy in my book.
As for the action on the ice, the ongoing saga between the Panthers and Lightning is beginning to rival that of the Star Wars, as Florida (the Rebellion) is beginning to catch up to the powerful Empire (Tampa). Both clubs are expected to be real contenders, both now and in the future.
Last season, the Panthers owned a 1-2-1 record against the Lightning.
With Aleksander Barkov leading the way like Luke Skywalker, the Panthers will battle the Bolts seven times this season, if you include their three preseason matchups (that's two trilogies and a side story!). If Florida wants to win the division and save the galaxy, they must first top Tampa.
4. THE CHAMPS (Monday, April 1)
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.
After two matchups against the Capitals in D.C., the Panthers will finally welcome the defending Stanley Cup champions to the BB&T Center on April 1. This game will not only kick off the final homestand of the regular season, but could also have huge playoff implications.
On the heels of their first-ever championship, the Capitals are returning most of the roster that trounced Vegas in five games in the Cup Final, with the exception of one fairly seismic change --Todd Reirden taking over as head coach for Barry Trotz, who is now with the Islanders.
That being said, I wouldn't expect this season's Capitals to be any less formidable. They still boast three-time Hart Trophy winner and reigning Conn Smythe recipient Alexander Ovechkin, all-star goaltender Braden Holtby and a wealth of other top-tier talents, such as centers Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom and defenseman John Carlson.
Could this game prove to be a playoff preview? Only time will tell.
But either way, this game should be an exciting measuring stick for the Cats as they prepare to close out the regular season. Last season, Florida owned a 2-1-0 record against Washington.
5. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Saturday, Nov. 24)
After enduring their longest road trip of the season - a six-game stretch throughout the Eastern Conference - the Panthers will return to the BB&T Center to kick off a season-long eight-game homestand on Nov. 24 against Chicago.
While the post-Thanksgiving holiday homestand is always a fan-favorite, this game holds a bit of added significance as it not only comes against one of the league's primetime darlings, but also due to the fact that Florida is coming off an historic season on home ice.
The Panthers won a franchise-record 27 games at home last season, surpassing the previous record of 26 set during the 1999-00 season. From Feb. 22-March 10, they set another franchise record with eight straight wins in their friendly confines, with five coming against playoff teams.
Of their 24 victories after the All-Star break, a league-high 16 came at home.
"It's a confidence thing," forward Colton Sceviour said in April. "We feel really comfortable at home. Our fans have been great here, especially down the stretch. Any time we come home, it's exciting. We've had some success here, so we feel comfortable that no matter what the game hands us or what's going on, we can win."
BONUS: PLAYOFFS?
Yeah, I'd definitely set aside a couple bucks for these tickets. I've got a good feeling.
