Here we are. A matchup I’ve been clamoring for since moving to South Florida in December of 2009. Not since 1997 have my beloved New York Rangers played the Florida Panthers in the playoffs, let alone squared off in an Eastern Conference Final! More on that to come, but allow me to rewind back to June of 1993, 31 years ago...

Actually, let’s go even further.

Growing up in Endwell, NY, most of my friends were either New York Rangers or New York Islanders fans. There were a few “outsiders” who rooted for the Buffalo Sabres or New Jersey Devils, but with the influence of my Dad, a lifelong Rangers fan, my blood runs BLUE as far back as I can remember.

I fondly recall going to the rink to watch him play, he handing me his goalie stick at the end of games and, with that, hockey became a passion of mine. As far back as I can remember, I had one of those sticks in my hands, playing pick-up games in the backyard until getting called in for dinner by Mom. This carried over to skating on local ponds or behind the fire station that would use their hoses to create a couple makeshift rinks, all this before even playing organized hockey. I loved every minute of it. Donning Dad’s hand-me-down pads, I would mimic what I saw him do in his Monday night games, as well as pretend that I was my favorite Ranger, John Vanbiesbrouck.

John Vanbiesbrouck. A name any true Panthers fan knows. We’ve taken photos with his pads, mask and stick on the 100 level at Amerant Bank Arena. It’s the same gear that John wore during the Cats fabled, rubber rat-filled trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. It’s because of “Beezer” that I have a soft spot in my heart for the Florida Panthers. But, back to 1993...

My Dad, a subscriber to The Hockey News for many years, came to me early that year, his renewal form filled out, yet missing one important detail. He asks me, “Mike, which one of these players would you like a poster of?” Without hesitation, I fired off the name “John Vanbiesbrouck!” So, off the form went in the mail and I really thought nothing of it until June of that year.

It was on June 24, 1993 that with the very first pick of their expansion draft, the Panthers selected John Vanbiesbrouck as their star goaltender. I was crushed. My favorite Ranger was no longer a part of my favorite team. Yet, one day, late that year, my Dad received one of those cardboard tubes from The Hockey News and placed it on my bed. Opening it, was the poster pictured below, of John Vanbiesbrouck, in full Panthers gear.

Up on the wall it went, surrounded by Rangers posters, pennants and memorabilia, naturally, but I still cheered for John and the fledgling Panthers, just as long as they weren’t playing my Rangers!

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it and, well, that brings us to tonight.

Game 1. Eastern Conference Final. 8 pm at Madison Square Garden.

With respect to all the amazing Panthers fans reading this, LET’S GO RANGERS!

This is gonna be fun. See you (in blue) at Amerant Bank Arena on Sunday for game 3. I may even take a pic with Beezer’s gear again, just for old time’s sake! 😉