Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour had a life-changing 36 hours this week. He was preparing for his first Stanley Cup Final game when he became a first-time father. Although it was not planned for these events to overlap, Montour nearly missed the birth of his son Kai because of hockey. Montour was in Las Vegas for Game 1 of the Panthers’ series against the Golden Knights on Friday when his wife, Ryian, went into labor back east. Montour didn’t find out until after the Panthers’ 5-2 loss and was immediately whisked onto a nerve-wracking cross-country flight to Florida.
Montour told reporters Wednesday after the Panthers’ practice that he was getting texts from her parents with updates on her condition. They didn’t think he was going to make it. Montour didn’t sleep at all and went straight to the delivery room when he arrived in Boca Raton. Kai was born at noon, and Montour got to experience the birth with his wife. Montour’s wife was supposed to be induced on June 14, right after Game 5 of the series when the Panthers would be home. Kai naturally had other plans, and Montour was on a plane back to Vegas for Game 2 hours after meeting the little one.
Montour Balances Fatherhood and Hockey
Montour’s back-and-forth adventure should be good preparation for the unpredictability of fatherhood. Panthers coach Paul Maurice said that Montour is a physical specimen and can handle a little fatigue. The experience was a good way for him to get used to becoming a father, or a mother for that matter. Sleep debt is his life for the next couple of years, but being there for the birth was really a good thing to happen. Montour missed the first drive home, but he’ll be there for a lot of firsts.
Montour Feels the Love from His Teammates
Montour was hoping Kai’s arrival might be a good luck charm for the Panthers in evening the Cup Final with a Game 2 victory. That didn’t come to fruition as Florida fell 7-2 and now trails the Golden Knights 2-0 as the series shifts to Panthers home ice for Game 3 on Thursday. Still, Montour felt the love from his teammates in the wake of a momentous personal occasion. They are his family when he’s at the rink, and they all care about what’s going on in their lives, and they’re excited for him. Unfortunately, Game 2 didn’t end the way they wanted, but they tried to have that motivation of a new baby in the world to help them out. It’s nice to come back and try to get back to business as quickly as possible.
Panthers’ Chances in the Playoffs
Florida hasn’t trailed in a playoff series since its first-round matchup against Boston. Montour had five goals in that matchup, and Florida could use more of those contributions from him now. The Panthers have been outscored by Vegas 12-4 in the Cup Final, thanks in part to terrific goaltending by Adin Hill. Montour predicts Florida can find a way to crack Hill, and watch the floodgates open from there. He said that Hill is a good goalie and they need to get in his face, make it tougher to see. Montour wants to bear down on his chances and get one here, and hopefully, they can keep trickling in.
The life of a professional hockey player can be unpredictable, and in Montour’s case, it led to a life-changing experience. Balancing hockey and fatherhood can be a challenge, but Montour has shown that he can handle both. Although the Panthers have struggled in the Cup Final, Montour remains optimistic about their chances and is ready to contribute to the team’s success.
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