Lundell has logged a goal and two assists in two games while filling in for Sasha Barkov
Lundell has logged a goal and two assists in two games while filling in for Sasha Barkov
It’s been a rough week at home for Florida Panthers, but things haven’t been all bad in Pantherland.
Amid the team’s struggles over the past few days, and while they’ve tried to endure the temporary loss of Sasha Barkov, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, one of Florida’s younger players has taken the opportunity to step up.
Filling in for Barkov as Florida’s top line center has been young Anton Lundell.
Flanked by his good friend Eetu Luostarinen and All-Star scoring machine Sam Reinhart, Lundell has jumped off the page over his past two games, playing some of his best hockey of the season and reminding us why he was once one of the most coveted young centermen in the league.
“I feel great,” Lundell said after recording a goal and an assist Friday against Minnesota. “It’s just hard sometimes. For a long time, I wasn’t able to score from anywhere or I’d hit the post."
While it may feel like Lundell is a veteran – he’s been around for three seasons, after all – at the end of the day he’s still just 22 years old.
Lundell has also had to learn and adapt to North American hockey while trying to ingest and perfect two very different coaching systems during his time with the Panthers.
“Sometimes it comes, I just need to stay on it and keep working, that's all I can do, improving myself every day,” he said. “Now it's been going in, and it feels even better. I know it's there, but I just need to try to find ways to get my potential out.”
One way to amp up Lundell’s game was to place him next to a guy who has been scoring at a pace few in the league can match.
The test will be what happens if and when they’re split up again once Barkov returns.
“Sam Reinhart has a piece of that,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said of Lundell’s recent play. “But also, bigger minutes, bigger role, more enthusiasm. Hopefully this is a jumpstart for him.”
Indeed, where it goes from here will be a big key to not only Lundell’s season, but Florida’s as a team.
Secondary scoring has been lacking with the Panthers, and adding a consistent source of offense from outside the top six will go a long way toward Florida’s Stanley Cup aspirations.
Lundell’s line has provided reliable, responsible hockey. Popping in a goal every now and then would be icing on the cake.
“It's always fun to help the team that way,” Lundell said. “I always take the game as I want to play good both ways. I don't want to give them too much, whichever line I’m playing against, but at the same time I want to create chances and help the team with goals as well.”
With Barkov expected back in the near future, it won’t be long until we find out if Lundell can keep the good times rolling.
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