Panthers happy with win in New Jersey but know they can still improve
Florida opened the season by going 1-2-0 on a three-game road trip through Minnesota, Winnipeg and New Jersey
Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports - Panthers happy with win in New Jersey but know they can still improveThe Florida Panthers have returned from the team's challenging three-game season opening road trip.
Facing a trio of extremely tough opponents, Florida was able to salvage two points out of the journey, but came home far from satisfied.
That's partially because of how the Panthers played on Saturday in Winnipeg, and partially because they nearly blew a 4-0 lead on Monday night against the New Jersey Devils.
Florida Captain Sasha Barkov acknowledged the importance of closing out games during his postgame comments following the win.
"Early in the season, we haven't really got to practice those moments where you have to play with the lead, we've been chasing from behind the last couple games," Barkov said, adding, "Getting the first win was huge for us."
Ain't that the truth.
Dropping the first two games in less than three days was a tough way to start the year, but losing all three on the trip, then flying home, then having to wait three days to try and wash off that stink during your home opener, which happens to be against an excellent Toronto Maple Leafs team…that would not have been fun.
"It's a bit of relief for us, and a good way to build our confidence now," Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola said after the win.
There were plenty of positive pieces to pluck from Florida's pair of losses, but as we learned last season, Florida must be humming along at the correct pace and on the same page for head coach Paul Maurice's systems to operate at optimum levels.
Monday night in Newark, the Panthers gave a glimpse of what the team will be capable of when they begin performing as a fully cohesive unit.
"I think that was exactly how we have to play," said Florida center Eetu Luostarinen. "We skated hard, we pressured, we were in on the forecheck and we got puck from their D and got scoring chances off those."
While a tying goal by the Devils certainly would have changed the narrative, that didn't happen.
Emerging victorious allowed Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice the ability to focus more on the things that went well for Florida.
"I'm happy with that. We built a well-earned, solid lead," Maurice said. "We got some big blocks at the end, all the dirty little gritty plays that you need to win, and the bench feels good. I'm happy with the way we came in, the way we started, the confidence that we built. Yeah, we had to hang on for it. I'm fine with that."
The key now is forward motion.
Taking those good things that you can draw back on and using it to win another game. And another.
All while doing those same things right, night in and night out.
"Obviously it's a long season," said Barkov. "But we've got to learn from every game and have to get better."
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