Matthew Tkachuk could get his wish after all

George Richards raised the obvious question, with Florida hosting San Jose that night and the puck drop currently listed for 7 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena.

On the same night, the Miami Hurricanes are scheduled to play the College Football Playoff national championship at Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Two huge crowds, two very different fanbases, and one chunk of South Florida highways caught in the middle. Even if you never drive near Miami Gardens, that attention pull is real.

As a local fan, I love a big-sports night, but I also know parking lots do not care about vibes. If the league tweaks the start, it will be for simple reasons, traffic, staffing, and TV windows.

Matthew Tkachuk has never hidden how big a Miami Hurricanes fan he is, and he seems ready to back that up again. He even floated the idea on social media that the NHL could adjust the start time of the Panthers' game against the Sharks, basically so he, and plenty of South Florida fans, could follow the Hurricanes' huge championship night nearby.

It's a small detail, but it says a lot about how plugged-in he is to the local sports scene, and how much he wants to support that program while still taking care of business with Florida.

Right now, nothing official has been announced beyond the posted 7 p.m. Panthers start. Until the NHL says otherwise, plan on arriving early, because the region is going to be packed.

This is also a chance for the Panthers to steal a little oxygen, not fight for scraps. A smart pregame push, and a loud first ten minutes, can turn a distracted night into a hockey night.

The Hurricanes will own the headlines either way, but the Panthers can still own their building with pace and a fast start. January 19 is set up as a stress test, and also a showcase.

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