The Florida Panthers made history on Tuesday night, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. The victory was a culmination of months of hard work, intense playoff battles, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.
As expected, the celebrations were massive. Fans inside Amerant Bank Arena danced and cheered late into the night. As the sun rose on Wednesday morning, a story emerged that might just be one of the funniest post-Cup moments in NHL history.
Aleksander Barkov’s 5 A.M. Celebration Adds a Hilarious Chapter to Panthers’ Stanley Cup Win
Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers’ captain and longtime franchise cornerstone, didn’t let the party end quietly. According to Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who shared the tale during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Barkov took his celebration to the next level and straight into his neighborhood.
“I heard a great story about Barkov from last night,” Zito said. “Apparently, he went home at like five in the morning to change and clean up before they kept going. And walked around his neighborhood and banged on everyone’s front door. ‘Hey! You want coffee with the Cup?”
“I heard a great story about Aleksander Barkov from last night..
At five in the morning he walked around his neighborhood banging on everybody’s front door with the Stanley Cup” 😂😂 ~ @bzitojr #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UPoiYQ8e9H
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 18, 2025
It wasn’t just a verbal story either. One Ring camera video surfaced showing Barkov and a group of friends marching up to a neighbor’s front door with the Stanley Cup in hand. It was real, it was unscripted, and it was hilarious.
That’s right. While most people were likely still asleep, Barkov was taking the Stanley Cup door-to-door, trying to include his neighbors in the celebration.
Aleksander Barkov really went walking around his neighborhood at 5am, knocking on his neighbors doors to show them the Stanley Cup 🤣
He’s as real as they come 💯 (via @rogerarojas_) pic.twitter.com/O4tzFEAWEx
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 18, 2025
Players and coaches get a day with the Stanley Cup during the offseason, leading to some of the most personal, quirky Cup moments. Barkov’s early-morning coffee run may not be the wildest thing that the Cup has been a part of, but it certainly ranks among the most charming and down-to-earth.
Barkov played a key role in Game 6. He had two crucial assists in the Cup-clinching game, including a perfect setup for Sam Reinhart’s second goal of the night.
Florida had a commanding 3-0 lead in the second period at that time, helping to seal the deal for the Panthers as well as the Oilers’ fate. With this win, Barkov becomes a two-time Stanley Cup champion and further cements his place in Panthers’ history.
The Panthers will have Barkov back next season. The franchise’s future looks promising. For now, Panthers players are living in the moment. They want to make sure that everyone, including neighbors, gets a taste of what it’s like to drink coffee with the Stanley Cup.
