Aleksander Barkov hoisted the Stanley Cup, skated with it for a few moments and then handed it to a grinning Nate Schmidt, in his first year with the Florida Panthers and raising hockey’s hallowed trophy for the first time. Before any repeat winner touched it, every Panther who never had before got the chance.

Fans cried out in frustration as the team struggled to break through Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky's wall. Rolls of toilet paper could be seen flying through the air and fans kicked at crumpled plastic beer glasses as the clock ticked down.