Florida Panthers Season Longer Than Miami Heat

     The Florida Panthers season will end up being longer than Miami Heat in 2023-24. The Panthers advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. The Heat fell in five games to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. 

     It is just the second time in 31 years that the Panthers season will last longer than the Heat season. Both teams have coexisted together in South Florida since the 1993-94 season. 

     The Miami Heat seasons have gone further or resulted in the same season exit as the Florida Panthers seasons from 1994 to 2023, even with both clubs not making the postseason. Both teams were eliminated in Game 5 of their championship series last year. 

     The exception was in 1996 when the Panthers won the Eastern Conference title and reached the Stanley Cup Finals. The Heat were swept during the first round in three games by the Chicago Bulls, who eventually captured the NBA title.