Lobster, champagne and stripper poles: Panthers party like rock stars in Miami
Can't stop, won't stop.
The Florida Panthers kept the party going to the extremes Thursday night two days after winning their second consecutive championship at home against the Edmonton Oilers.
The guys had already celebrated so hard the day before in Fort Lauderdale Beach that they banged up the actual Stanley Cup.
Insiders told us that the guys painted the town red starting at Maple & Ash at downtown's Miami World Center. The boisterous crew toasted to their back to back titles, along with the guest of honor, the (repaired) trophy, as well as a famous fellow diner, tennis great Martina Navratilova.
The entire team indulged in an 'extravagant' dinner party for 40 at the upscale steakhouse, taking over the VIP area, and tucking into Chef Danny Grant's so called IDGAF Chef's Menu…Champions edition.
The protein- and calorie-packed recovery meal included dry-aged meatballs, bone-in ribeye and lobster spaghetti followed by chocolate cake, coconut cream pie, and raspberry macarons. Drink of choice: 'Expensive' California cabs, and naturally, champagne, guzzled out of the Stanley Cup.
After chowing down and toasting their win, the Cats moved the festivities to E11EVEN, the 24/7 ultraclub where dozens of cheering hockey fans were already waiting by the red carpet. Once inside, things got a little crazy, Miami style (just like last year). Rapper Rick Ross sent over a 15-liter bottle of his Belaire bubbly, which immediately got sprayed in every direction.
While winger Brad Marchand crowd surfed, the rest of the gang piled on the main stage dancing to Chappell Roan's hit 'Pink Pony Club.' If you know, you know: the Edmonton Oilers adopted it as a victory song during the playoffs. Burn.
The ecstatic teammates then all began dancing and screaming, 'We got the Cup!' while the packed club chanted along. As iconic Queen anthem 'We Are the Champions' came over the speakers, confetti rained down and smoke came out of nowhere. That's when the crowd went absolutely wild, we were told of the blowout that lasted well past 3 a.m.
Among the many highlights of the evening/early morning was center Sam Bennett dropping the bombshell that he intends to stay a Cat, by uttering the famous line from 'The Wolf of Wall Street' — 'I ain't f---ing leaving!'
Another viral moment was born when fellow center Sam Reinhart climbed a stripper pole to grab a signed Aleksander Barkov jersey from the a trapeze bar hanging from the rafters, while people yelled his nickname, 'Reino! Reino!' The wild scene was captured on Barstool Sports' Instagram page with the caption, 'THE FLORIDA PANTHERS MAY NEVER SLEEP AGAIN.'
We feel like at least a few probably did eventually get some well earned shut-eye after that booze-soaked, exhilarating rager.
'Wherever you looked they were, truly enjoying partying with their fans,' dished a fellow patron. 'And those fans who waited all night to get in were drinking from the same champagne bottle as the champs.'
Speaking of enjoying time with fans: Upstairs in the balcony, Brad Marchand, double fisting beers, managed to sign fans' plastic rat souvenirs. One woman asked him to autograph her forehead, which he contemplated briefly, but said no.
After that acrobatic stunt on the pole, Reinhart was later seen with forward Evan Rodrigues pouring shots down fans' throats and handing out full bottles to revelers.
Though Reinhart was up playing bartender until the wee hours, the NHL superstar was able to eventually clock in at Raising Canes in Tamarac on Friday for a 'celebratory shift.'
'There was no sobriety check this morning,' the pro told reporters.
Miami Herald reporter Amanda Rosa contributed to this story.
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