For the first time since 1996, the Florida Panthers are in Stanley Cup Final. The fans can’t believe it. Even the players can’t believe it.
And the Miami Heat just need one more win to advance to the NBA Finals (no need to worry, Heat fans: Jimmy Butler is confident we’ve got this).
Not too shabby for a couple of eight seeds who were clear underdogs going into their respective playoffs last month.
It’s an exciting time to be a sports fan — and a sports player — in South Florida and that excitement is palpable in these photos captured by Miami Herald photojournalists.
Florida Panthers completed the sweep on Wednesday
The series against the Carolina Panthers ended the way it started — with maximum drama.
The Florida Panthers walk onto the ice before the start of Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at the FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers swept the Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996.
Fans cheer as Florida Panthers center Nick Cousins participates in the warmup period before the start of his Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at the FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. A game-winning goal with 4.9 seconds left lifted the Florida Panthers past the Hurricanes in a sweep and into the Stanley Cup Final.
Florida Panthers fan Layton Thomas cheers after Panthers left wing Ryan Lomberg scored a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period of Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals series at the FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky gives his hockey stick to a fan after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 1 to 0 in Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Final at the FLA Live Arena on Monday, May 22, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida.
Miami Heat are just one win away
The fans and players were pumped before, during and after the game when the Heat defeated the Celtics in Game 3 at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Tuesday.
Miami Heat fans LaTrisha Smith, Nesha Smith and Brittney Smith, left to right, show their support before the start of the game against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
Miami Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro dribbles the ball during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on May 21, 2023. Herro was cleared to resume non-contact basketball work on Tuesday after breaking his right hand in the opening game of the team’s playoff run.
Miami Heat fans show their support during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Boston forced Game 5 after defeating the Heat 116-99.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler reacts with DJ Khaled after his team defeated the Boston Celtics 128-102 after the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals series at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on May 21, 2023.
