Panthers Near Record for Most NHL Games in 3 Years

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    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For the Florida Panthers, it might feel like hockey is a daily part of life.
    On Wednesday night, as they step onto the ice for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, the Panthers will mark their 309th game over the last three seasons, equaling the NHL record for the most games played within such a time frame. By Game 2 on Friday, they’re set to surpass this record.
    Playing in the Stanley Cup Final for three consecutive seasons comes with its rewards, but also with the demanding task of a packed schedule, teetering between exhaustion and exhilaration.
    “We will have more energy for this series than any of the three prior,” noted coach Paul Maurice. “The regular season was more of a grind for us this year than either of the two previous. In each round, the build to excitement grew bigger just because the light is at the end of the tunnel. There are no more than seven games left to this season, no matter what. So, you will see a new energy source from both teams in this series.”
    The NHL record for games over three seasons, previously shared by Dallas (1997-98 through 1999-2000) and Detroit (2006-07 through 2008-09) with 309 games, is now on the verge of being surpassed by the Panthers. Their recent Game 5 victory in Carolina, securing their spot as Eastern Conference titleholders, marked their 308th game in three seasons.
    Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling, two Panthers stalwarts, have been the team’s cornerstone, playing nearly all of these matches. Both athletes have 303 appearances during this historic three-year run, edging closer to eclipsing Phil Kessel’s record with Pittsburgh, who featured in all 307 of their games from 2015-16 through 2017-18.
    “That is crazy,” Forsling admitted. “I didn’t know that stat. It’s a lot of preparation and recovery, and you’ve got to do the right things. Otherwise, you’re going to be struggling out there — because that’s a lot of hockey. Mentally, you’ve got to take days off and not think about hockey as much.”
    Edmonton is also swiftly climbing up the list of most games played over three years. Wednesday’s face-off with Florida will be the Oilers’ 300th game in the past three seasons. Should the series stretch to seven games, Edmonton will tally up 306 games, ranking them just behind the Panthers and others on this list.
    “This last stretch over the last couple of years has been some of the most fun I’ve had playing hockey,” Oilers star Connor McDavid said after their Western Conference victory. “I look forward to what’s going to be an exciting month.”
    The Oilers and Panthers are both spearheaded by superstars, yet they recognize that their success stems from robust team depth. During the playoffs, both teams have seen 19 different players find the back of the net.
    “That’s what’s been winning us hockey games,” remarked Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. “And you need that this time of year. We knew we were going to need everybody. … Our depth has been incredible.”
    Setting themselves up for grueling campaigns, the Panthers leverage intensive training camps as a crucial component. Yet, daily strength and conditioning, nutritional guidance, and input from sports science experts couple to craft their blueprint for peak performance. Logging an impressive 67,000 air miles this season, they’ve prioritized recovering by staying overnight in cities instead of late-night flights back, maintaining more regular sleep schedules.
    “Before practice, after practice, every day, that’s kind of the mindset and culture that we build here,” explained Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. “Many of us no longer indulge in drinking. We can’t afford that because we cannot afford to get behind the eight ball at all during the season. That’s where our team is at now.”