“I think you just ride the wave,” Reinhart said of having the stamina to power through. “When you put so much hard work into it, it makes it that much more fun going through it.”
Using past experiences to help secure back-to-back Cups – just the 10th franchise to ever do so -- the Panthers are taking a similar approach to enjoying their time while celebrating.
No stress, just success.
“Now everyone just knows how to sit back a little bit and enjoy it because last year was so hectic,” captain Aleksander Barkov said of the difference of celebrating the Cup this year. “It happened [last year], it’s your first time ever, and you’ve been dreaming about it for such a long time. I feel like this year everyone gave permission to themselves to enjoy it.”
Taking the party into Sunday, the Panthers are ready to celebrate again with fans on A1A during the team’s championship parade.
For one Panther who missed last year’s celebration, the hopes and excitement of being on the bus have been building for a year.
“It was something my wife and I have talked about all year, hoping to be back here and be a part of a parade,” said Reinhart, who missed last year’s iconic rain-soaked parade due to a wedding. “Pretty cool, and we’re excited about it tomorrow."
Receiving quite the showing last year despite a severe thunderstorm, this year’s parade should be even bigger.
No matter what the weather is, the one thing fans can count on is that head coach Paul Maurice will be wearing another shirt of the Maurice family’s cats.
“I don’t have a choice on that,” Maurice said. “I have two, but I have to wear both.”
For more information on Sunday’s Championship parade, click here.
