JD

I received the call that my older daughter had been found dead while I was watching Panthers-Leafs Game 5. Tomorrow makes 11 months since that night. After that night, the rest of the playoffs were a blur. I watched as the Cats would go on to repeat, and while I was proud of them for it, there was no celebration, for the obvious reasons. This season started, and I'll be honest, I heavily considered not watching at all. But I turned it on and watched. It's been a rough season. Not just because of the Barky's entire season being missed, or the endless gauntlet of injuries I watched the team endure. It's been rough because every game I watch, there's that memory of receiving the phone call. Every goal score. Every goal horn, both home and away. They have a way of bringing me back to that night and that call. As the season went on, I won't say it got easier, because it didn't. But I know that my older daughter wouldn't want me to lose the things I love because she's gone. My younger daughter kept flat out telling me I had to watch, knowing I'd regret it if I didn't, even on the nights we lost. I love this team. And through 81 games (because the final game is tomorrow), the team helped me start to heal in a way I didn't expect it to. Through each injury, more adversity, more challenges, more battling... we never quit. It didn't matter who was in the lineup on any given night, and lord knows we had quite the revolving door of players in and out, but there was always a fight.. even on the nights we lost big (that 9-1 loss to Carolina was particularly challenging to watch). I know I'm never going to be healed completely from the loss of my daughter. That's just not possible. But I know I have to keep fighting through the grief and get through it no matter how beat up I get along the way. Like I mentioned, I love this team. I loved them in middle school when they first entered the league, because I'm a giant homer and was thrilled to have a home team to root for in hockey. I loved them during that first Cup run when I was 13. I've loved them through the dark days and the struggles and obviously I've loved them during these last few years as well. I know it's Fan Appreciation Day, but with tomorrow being 11 months since my daughter passed and me being emotional, it seemed fitting that I show my appreciation for the team instead. Thank you @FlaPanthers for a season it seems I needed, even if the outcomes didn't go in our way as much as we would have liked. Thank you, @goldieonice .. unless they're on the national game, your voice was the one constant and reliable thing I had these last six months. Thank you CatsMin for constantly keeping me with content on every social media platform throughout the entire time. Oh, and thank you to every single Panthers podcast that I listened to while working or while just trying to get my mind to focus on anything other than what it was currently on, specifically @PantherPourri and @LOPanthersPod. Hopefully next season I can make it home and actually get to a game. #GoCatsGo #TimeToHunt

You can't tell that Ottawa is 2 points out of a playoff spot based on this first period. Good lord..

So… rough night for “Hangman” Chris Paddack…

OWEN CAISSIE. SAY HIS NAME

lol @KellySaco quickly pulled out of the line of fire while interviewing Caissie. P.S. I absolutely LOVE Owen Caissie!

"His little brother is beating the brakes off that waffle cone." - @Kyle_Sielaff This is why I pay for MLB.tv.

@Marlins baseball is OFFICIALLY back when @KellySaco gets her first jump scare from a foul ball.

A healthy Norby is a very, very good thing.

@florigoaway @JakeSucky “I would never hit her in her face.” Okay. But he still hit her.

@JakeSucky in a clip he literally says he just pushed her and would “never hit her” disgusting twitch.tv/jordansisco_/c…

Warzone streamer Jordan Sisco has been accused of hitting his girlfriend after he idiotically spilled a drink on his new gaming PC Absolutely disgusting

@ethanbudowsky The colors are fine. Building off of last season’s team and ownership actually putting forth the effort into a continuing success would mean so much to the fan base. Far more likely they have another decent year and then start selling off everyone again immediately after though.

Because this team hasn't had ownership that connects to the fanbase and gives them a team to root for and identify with in more than two decades. Bring back the black and teal, then sign and keep players the fans can connect with. If you build it, they will come.

That’s my fuckin coach!

SWAGGY DOES IT AGAIN FOR THE LEAD

SWAGGY X 2!! #TimeToHunt

@Phincane Why we gotta bring up old shit?!

Shut up Trey. Dammit. 😂😂😂

@rachelb1219 @SashaBarky Especially not with that username. Absolutely not

@SashaBarky no❤️ hope this helps

hi everybody!!!!! im a panthers fan!! is it okay for me to like the lightning and maple leafs??? im trying to get into new teams!! 🤗🤗 #timetohunt

The apps you know go further with Copilot.

@Lauzin Anyone who says “sportsball” can kick rocks.

What a dork

@MikeSanchize I trust not one thing from then until I see results now lol

I don't really get it. In a year where you're pigeon holed because of Pooa's contract. But whatever lol

You see these kind of games a lot when #TBLightning are playing #FlaPanthers. And lots of people always want to blame Florida for it all. Nope. It takes two to tango here.

@BStulberg When OKC won the championship last season, so many of them looked like it was “just another game.” It made the whole thing feel unimportant.

NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama (Wemby) broke into tears after the Spurs’ 25-point comeback against the Clippers. The “too cool to care” mentality is a dead end. Trying hard is cool. Pushing yourself to get better is cool. Stepping into the arena is cool. Caring deeply is cool. Somewhere along the way it became uncool to care. But this is nonsense. The only people who say it’s not cool to care are the people who are hiding their own fear of failure and insecurities. After Wemby collected himself, he told the media: “I thought I was going to pass out,” he said. “That’s close to being the hardest game of my life.” We respect others when they give it their all. And the same is true for ourselves. When you hold yourself back because you fear failure or looking “uncool,” you sacrifice growth and potential and mastery and fulfillment and intimacy and love (and all the other good stuff in life) for short-term safety and comfort. It’s a trap. Get over it. The best athletes care deeply. The best artists care deeply. The best leaders care deeply. The best coaches care deeply. The best teachers care deeply. The best doctors care deeply. The best writers care deeply. The best scientists care deeply. The best parents care deeply. Enough with the nonchalance. Try hard and give a damn.