Panthers demoralizing opposing fan bases in their own arenas

RALEIGH, N.C. — Years ago, the Panthers were stuck playing in front of legions of empty seats in Sunrise. Now they are forcing opposing teams to play in front of half-full arenas in the waning minutes of playoff games.

In each of Florida’s last four road playoff wins — two in Toronto and two in Raleigh — fans have gotten up and left their seats well before the final horn sounded. Why? Because the Panthers demolished the home team in each game, outscoring the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes by a combined score of 22-4.

“It’s fun,” Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe said. “When you’re on the road and it goes quiet and feels like we’re doing our job. I think we’ve had good couple starts, and that’s had a lot to do with it. Some games you’re going to win, like (Thursday night), and some games it could have been 1-0, you know what I mean? I think it’s just for us to stay focused on what we need to do and not change the way we play whether we’re down five or up five.”

After Florida won 5-2 in Game 1 of the series Tuesday, the Hurricanes were expected to try to come out firing in Game 2. Instead, Florida scored 1:17 into the first period. By the end of the first period, the Panthers built a 3-0 lead as the Hurricanes managed just three shots on goal.

Carolina fans’ frustrations rose as the deficit got larger and the Panthers held the Hurricanes’ offense in check. Fans booed and chanted “Shoot the puck!” twice, but to no effect. Carolina ended the game with just 17 shots, which was the franchise’s lowest total in any game since 2014 and its lowest in a playoff game since 2006.

Although Panthers fans may delight in watching their team demoralize opposing fans, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he does not think visiting teams derive too much energy by silencing crowds.

“I don’t think that you necessarily gain anything on the road. You just don’t lose anything,” Maurice said. “So the other team scores, you’re on the road, the building gets amped up. Dallas (on Wednesday), 3-1 game, they scored that thing early and that building lit up, and now they’re skating twice as fast as they did for the first two periods. There’s a huge advantage to the home team. … I don’t think that the road team participates in that.

“If it’s quiet, we don’t know. The music’s still really loud and they’re cheering, so we don’t pick up on that. But there can be a real advantage for the home team when they get something good to happen and lights the crowd up.”