DANIA BEACH - The Florida Panthers now have a jetBlue plane to call their own, at least in spirit.
On Thursday morning at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the airline unveiled the newest addition to its themed aircraft lineup: an Airbus A320 dressed in Panthers red and stamped with team imagery all over the fuselage. Sasha Barkov, Brad Marchand, and Bill Zito were among those on hand for the reveal.
”This is pretty cool,” Zito said.
The plane carries the creeping panther from the team’s secondary shoulder logo along the side, with the shield logo on the tail. The stick-and-palm logo is part of the design too, and the aircraft has been given the special designation ‘Go Cats Go.’
The Panthers tie-in makes sense for jetBlue, which has long sponsored the team and uses FLL as one of its main hubs. The airline has already rolled out other team-themed planes, including ones honoring the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Brooklyn Nets. It also has a Dunkin’ themed plane, along with aircraft recognizing the FDNY, I ❤️ NY, and the New York Jets.
Though the Panthers branding was unveiled Thursday, the plane had already been flying in regular service. It made a trip from JFK to the Dominican Republic before landing in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday for the ceremony in Dania Beach.
The Panthers won’t actually travel on it. Their team charter remains with Delta, while this jetBlue plane is part of the airline’s normal passenger fleet.
Still, it will be easy enough to spot. Air Cat One is scheduled to fly from FLL to Boston Logan later this afternoon.
”I can’t wait,” Zito said, “until this beautiful plane touches down in Boston later this afternoon.”
And if you’re stuck in traffic on 95, you might even catch a glimpse of it overhead.
AT THE GATE: GAME No. 17
Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena; Washington, DC
Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+
Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM. Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM, NHL App
This Season - At Washington: Saturday; Nov. 27.
At Florida: Feb. 3
Last Season: Panthers won 3-0
All-time Regular Season Series: Washington leads 70-49-14, 9 ties
Up Next for the Panthers: Sunday vs. Boston Bruins, 1 p.m.
In Other News...
Panthers Got The Response They Needed From An Unexpected Difference Maker
Florida got the kind of answer it needed in a 5-3 win over Chicago, and the surprise of the night was Sandis Vilmanis, who kept popping up in the offense while the Panthers built an early 3-0 cushion. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe also found the scoresheet, while Jacob Markstrom handled 18 shots in goal as Florida tried to steady itself after a stretch that demanded a cleaner, more complete response.
The Blackhawks made it interesting by cutting into the lead twice in the third period, but the Panthers did enough to keep control and leave with two points. For a team looking for reliable production beyond the usual names, Vilmanis gave them exactly the kind of lift that can change the tone of a game, even if the final minutes still asked a few uncomfortable questions. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found A New Offensive Threat Against Chicago
The Panthers got a needed lift in a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena, and Sandis Vilmanis was at the center of it. Vilmanis led Florida with four points, including two goals, while Sam Reinhart added three points as the Panthers built enough of a cushion to survive Chicagos late push.
Florida still had to sweat through a comeback attempt before putting the game away with a late empty-net goal, but the bigger takeaway was the emergence of another offensive option. For a team that leans on its top scorers to drive the attack, getting that kind of production from Vilmanis gives the Panthers something to watch as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Marchand Just Gave Panthers Fans The Return Clue They Needed
Brad Marchand and Sasha Barkov were both back on the ice in some form this week, a welcome sign for a Panthers team that has been waiting on two of its most important players to work their way through injury rehab. Marchand, who has been dealing with a left knee injury, spoke openly about the recovery process and sounded encouraged by where things stand, while Barkov also described his own rehab in positive terms as he continues skating.
The update matters because Florida is still trying to navigate life without two top-line pieces, and any hint of progress naturally draws attention. Marchand offered a clearer sense of his path back, while Barkov stopped short of putting a date on his own return, leaving the Panthers with optimism but still a little uncertainty about when the lineup will be whole again. [Read more 🡒]