Three takeaways: Panthers handle business, Maurice keeping Barkov and Reinhart apart, for now
Rookie Mackie Samoskevich will get another look on Sasha Barkov's wing while Sam Reinhart is staying with former linemates Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen
One thing was made clear about Wednesday’s game between the Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes well before the opening puck dropped.
Heads had far from cooled following the first game between Florida and Arizona that took place in Tempe back on Jan. 2.
That’s the game Jason Zucker took a run at Nick Cousins following a check by Cousins on Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki.
Cousins has been out of the lineup since after entering the concussion protocol and Zucker was handed a three-game suspension as a result of the illegal check.
That was 22 days ago, but it may as well have been yesterday.
Well before the game was set to begin, when both teams took the ice for warmups, several tough customers from both sides gathered at center ice, Zucker among them.
What ended up happening was both teams started the game with their fourth lines, and there were two fights within the first seven seconds of the opening puck drop.
That takes us right into our takeaways.
Panthers handle all business
It wasn’t just about getting redemption or revenge or whatever you want to call it.
Yes, there was no mistaking what was on the minds of several of Florida’s players when they arrived at the rink on Wednesday, but they didn’t let that get in the way of the team’s ultimate objective, which is always winning the game.
“It was handled pretty right,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said afterwards. “That stuff happens, and then more importantly, our game was really good. That's the key to that. If you’ve got a mature group, something like that happens at the start, but your game good, the guys can focus, and we were fast and kind of set the tone. And then it just got quiet, right? It was a real hot first period and after that there wasn't a lot to get too excited about, but we finished it.”
More of Mackie?
Rookie Mackie Samoskevich played several strong shifts on the right wing of Sasha Barkov during Wednesday’s win over Arizona, but the outing still left something to be desired.
That’s because Samoskevich played only 12:17 of ice time, all of which came at even strength in a game that had a total of 66 penalty minutes handed out.
Fortunately for the 21-year-old, it sounds like he earned himself another look on the top line.
“I liked the lines, and then the game disappears because it got to special teams, but I’d like to see a little bit more of it,” Maurice said. “It's an easy flip as well, Reinhart and Samoskevich can flip and then the lines are similar to what they've been in the past, but I liked it.”
Leaving Lundell with Reinhart
Another element that comes from pairing Barkov and Samoskevich is that it keeps Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart on the same line.
Barkov missed three games with a lower-body injury, and during that time Lundell’s game has hit a new gear while centering a line with Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen.
During the four games, including Wednesday, the line has been back together, Lundell has two goals and five points.
It may not last forever, but for now Maurice is happy to see how things play out.
“They're just good together, right?” Maurice said of Reinhart on the Lundell line. “They were a great line for us in the playoffs. I don't want to take anything away from Sam Reinhart because he's just so strong, and eventually (he and Barkov) will go back together, but right now it also lets me really manage Barkov’s minutes coming off injury.”
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