MIAMI GARDENS (CBS12 NEWS) — At the same time as the Miami Dolphins were practicing in the rain in Miami Gardens on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers were arriving in Edmonton, Alberta , Canada, four wins away from winning back to back Stanley Cups.
Dolphins players like Zach Sieler, Bradley Chubb and Jaylen Waddle have all attended Panthers playoff games over the past few weeks, and head coach Mike McDaniel says they’re inspired by witnessing South Florida sports fans at their peak of excitement.
“You can never have too many friendly reminders of what you’re fighting for,” says McDaniel. “There’s nothing more motivating than watching people that really sacrifice hard earned monthly income to support athletic performance. You can feel it; the Panthers games in the playoffs are unique in its own right, and you can just feel the appreciation and that isn’t lost on coaches or players at all.”
“They definitely bring an urge to the city,” says Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. “They bring excitement to the city. Every professional sport in the city, it’s just like they’re pretty much the standard with all that they’ve accomplished over the past years. It’s definitely like a fire under us to try to match them.”
The Panthers play game one of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night in Edmonton. Watch a preview with former Panthers star & broadcaster Bill Lindsay by using this link.