Sentences we could have never imagined writing back in October:
Connor McDavid is 16th in rookie scoring.
The Montreal Canadiens are the lousiest team in the National Hockey League.
Kevin Spacey and the Florida Panthers have bonded to the point where the actor got himself a Fetty Wap jersey.
The Atlantic-leading Panthers have not only become the league’s funnest team, they have established the most unusual and awesome celebrity connection.
Kevin Spacey, whose face dons the brilliant Spacey in Space hoodie awarded to the Cats’ player of the game, returned some love Thursday night at BB&T Center.
The House of Cards star recorded a crowd-hyping promo that splashed on the Jumbotron during the third period of Florida’s win over Detroit. In the spot, Spacey pulls on a Panthers sweater numbered 1738 and gives a thumbs up. Watch:
“That was pretty cool,” Brandon Pirri told the Miami Herald. “You don’t really want to be looking at the Jumbotron during a game, but we were all nudging each other.”
Spacey’s “1738” references the opening shoutout rapper Fetty Wap makes to his cognac of choice in “Trap Queen” — the Panthers’ victory song.
“Trap Queen” and the blue hoodie have been in steady rotation lately. Florida has now won five consecutive games, all of them by at least three goals, and 17 straight games when all-star defenceman Aaron Ekblad is in the lineup.
Ekblad memorably pulled on the Spacey in Space top for his Hardest Shot competition last weekend, and BT&T quickly sold out its first order replica Spacey hoodies. Proceeds are split between the Panthers’ and Spacey’s foundations — pay it forward.
Aleksander Barkov thanked Spacey upon signing his contract extension, and the Herald reports that the club is trying to get Spacey to a game.
“If we keep going the way we are,” Pirri said, “I’m sure he will be.”
Why Spacey? Well, beat reporter George Richards believes the players ran into the Oscar winner on a New York road trip in December and they hit it off.
