Three takeaways: Bottom six shines as Florida grinds out win over Montreal
The Panthers fourth line has been quietly becoming one of the team's most consistent forward groups
The Florida Panthers couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out 2023.
Florida won its fourth straight game on Saturday, defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in front of a packed house at Amerant Bank Arena.
The late-December surge has the Panthers just two points back of the Boston Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division, holding a strong 22-12-2 record.
It was clear from the start on Saturday that the Panthers weren’t quite at full strength, as they were playing their third game in four nights, but that didn’t stop Paul Maurice’s squad from putting fourth maximum effort and clawing their way to a pair of big points in the standings.
Here are our last takeaways of 2023:
Eetu’s big night
On an evening where Florida’s big guns were held mostly in check, Eetu Luostarinen stepped up with a career effort.
For the first time over his 248 NHL outings, Luostarinen logged a multi-goal game, scoring twice on the power play while boosting the Cats to victory.
What really impressed Maurice wasn’t necessarily how good he looked on Saturday, but it was how strong Eetu played for a second night in a row.
“The way he played last night, how hard he played last night,” Maurice said. “In general with the group, things weren't easy for us. We didn't move the puck real easy, and I think Montreal played hard defensively, but then he was able to drive through it. We had a few guys I thought were able to play as hard as they did last night. There was a big cost, on the penalty kill and the physicality that he was able to drive through, and I think that's what he is. I think he's one of those guys that’s just a really hard (worker). He conditions himself, and I'm not even talking about in the gym, he just pushes himself every day in practice, and every day in the games, and keeps driving. Then those guys can make plays at the end of the game because their hands aren't wobbly, and they're not fatigued. He's just he's just been great for us.”
Grinding kind of game
The Canadiens came into Saturday’s game knowing they would likely have much fresher legs, and they used that to their advantage as best they could.
Credit to the Habs for keeping their feet moving, clogging up route lanes and keeping as tight a gap as they could, limiting Florida’s time and space throughout much of the night.
Fortunately for the Panthers, they were able to stay disciplined and come up big on the power play.
“Some nights you get into a game, especially if you spent a lot (of energy) the night before, where no know puck movement is easy,” Maurice said. “And if the other team is grinding a little bit, and I think they were trying to do that, it makes everything difficult. We didn't try to open the game up and we didn't try to break the game because we were uncomfortable.”
Fourth line ascending
Some might argue it was due to them being the freshest trio entering Saturday’s game, but Florida’s fourth line of Kevin Stenlund centering Ryan Lomberg and William Lockwood provided shift after shift of physical, formidable hockey and wore down the Canadiens.
At even strength, they were the Panthers best line at producing chances for and limiting them against.
It’s actually been a recurring theme over the past couple weeks as the group has been utilizing its speed and keeping opposing teams on their heels.
Speaking about the line after the game, Maurice gave some credit to the newest member of the group, Lockwood.
The 25-year-old, who Florida signed to a two-way deal back on July 2, was called up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers back on Dec. 15 and has played in each of Florida’s past seven games.
“He’s doing everything he possibly can to become a permanent fixture here and I mean everything,” Maurice said of Lockwood. “He’s fighting, and that’s not how he came into the league by any means. All the off-ice stuff too, in the gym, all the right things, and then working so hard. So he shows up on that wing and all of a sudden that line has got an identity. They're all moving together well, and they like playing with each other, and why wouldn't they? Because they're on the puck and they create things, it's not just sit back and try to get through the shift and hope nothing bad happens. They're out there trying to make things happen, so I enjoy it. I enjoy sending them on the ice and I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to happen. I know they're going to go fast and who knows what else is going to happen, so it's fun to watch.”
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