Panthers’ home game vs. Sharks starting early to minimize conflict with CFP title game
The Miami Hurricanes are playing in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have a home game that day as well against the San Jose Sharks that was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise — about a 25-minute drive from where the CFP title game between No. 10 Miami and No. 1 Indiana is set to take place.
The NHL is now putting some space between the starts of the two contests.
The league announced Monday it has moved up the start time for the Panthers-Sharks game by an hour. Puck drop is now scheduled for 6 p.m. in Sunrise.
It’s a move that was advocated by star Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, who earlier this season served as a celebrity guest picker on ESPN’s “College GameDay” when the show came to Coral Gables for Miami’s home game against the Florida Gators.
“I think it would be pretty sick if they’re in the finals here,’’ Tkachuk said on Jan. 4 before Miami’s eventual 31-27 win over the Ole Miss Rebels in the semifinals to secure their spot in the championship. “Some guys are trying to get our game pushed up a little bit so we can be able to watch it. They should be able to do that. … I think they’re trying to make South Florida Title Town, so it would be pretty cool if they could do it.’’
Moving up the start time of a regular-season hockey game in response to another big local sporting event isn’t unprecedented.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, moved up the start time of games earlier this season due to the Blue Jays being in the World Series.
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