The Florida Panthers Still Want To Be 'The Hunters'

The first two periods of Florida's Monday night loss to Toronto were very much one of those 'burn the videotape' scenarios. 

Thanks to a comeback in the third period, the Panthers got within one goal before Auston Matthews salted away the game with an empty-netter for a 6-4 Leafs win. So even with the Panthers playing poorly, they still made things very competitive - and scary - for their opponent.

Last season, the Panthers barely squeaked into the post-season before embarking on a run that saw them knock off the Presidents' Trophy winners from Boston plus two very dangerous squads from Toronto and Carolina before falling to the heavy and talented Vegas Golden Knights. And while injuries made it seem as though Florida would have a rough go of things early on this season, the Panthers instead maintained their high standard from the previous Stanley Cup final run and have been one of the best teams in the league all season.

So what does it feel like to be the hunted instead of the hunters now? For the players, the mindset hasn't changed.

"I think we're still hunters," said defenseman Brandon Montour. "It was nice to get that 'x' on our name (to denote a playoff berth in the standings) earlier than last year, but we know how to play playoff hockey, and we're trying to get our game right before that."

It does feel like the Panthers have been playing playoff-style hockey all year and not because they had to but simply because that is what this team has become under coach Paul Maurice. 

Defensively, they're one of the best in the NHL (tied with Winnipeg for the fewest goals surrendered per game), and physically, they're one of the meanest outfits around. No, they don't have a heavyweight like Toronto's Ryan Reaves or New York's Matt Rempe, but they do have a coterie of guys who are nasty to play against: Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins, for example.

On top of that, you have the captain Aleksander Barkov, who is difficult to play against in a different way because he's probably going to win the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward. To date, Barkov has been on the ice for 47 goals-for and only 20 against at 5-on-5, the best mark among all regulars in the league.

With an experienced starting goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky as well, the Panthers have every reason to be confident in themselves heading into the post-season. It's something newcomers to the team have observed, too.

"You can feel their experience from last year in the playoffs," said right winger Vladimir Tarasenko, acquired at the trade deadline from Ottawa. "It means a lot to have a lot of guys go deep and know how to come back in games, to never give up. Things happen in the playoffs that are not always comfortable, and I feel this team has very good character. It's a very close group of guys."

Tarasenko is one of the few players on the team to have gone all the way already, having earned his Cup ring as a member of the St. Louis Blues in 2019. But most of the others were around last year for that run to the final, and that confidence has carried over. 

The Panthers don't know who their first-round opponent will be yet, but at least this time, they know they're guaranteed a spot. Which means this stretch run will be more about preparation instead of mere survival.

"At this point, we're trying to get our game to the best point we can," Montour said. "Whether it's Toronto we play or maybe Tampa, you want to bring your best against everyone for the rest of the year."