Oct 15, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant talks with the team as assistant coach John Madden looks on during a time out in the third period of a game against the Buffalo Sabres at BB&T Center. The Panthers won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers are enslaved to the random undulations of the hockey season, just like any NHL franchise. One day you’re on top of the world, basking in the invigorating rays of the sun as you survey your hockey kingdom from above. Another day, and you’re pretty close to sea level again. Perhaps for just one game, the Florida Panthers flew too close to the sun.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Panthers in fact had the best attendance to start the season of any NHL team. With a whopping 114% of the building filled against the Philadelphia Flyers, the crowd was actually pushing the limits of maximum occupancy laws and physics itself.

But after last night’s win over the Buffalo Sabres, the Florida Panthers can no longer claim to hold the scepter that rules over all NHL teams. Observe:

The wonder is, he hath endur’d so long.

He but usurp’d his life.

The Florida Panthers have briefly abdicated their throne of NHL dominance, but I would merely say to give it time. With players like Jaromir Jagr, Roberto Luongo, and upcoming stars like Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers are better equipped than any team in the league for a massive rebound back up the attendance standings. One mid-week crowd against a weak hockey team is not enough to buck the momentum the Panthers are building.

It might not come today, but maybe tomorrow, that the Florida Panthers return to the spot where they belong. Canadian wiseguys will shudder, and fire marshals will cry foul once again.

One day, the reign will be legitimate.