Nick Cousins to play in Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final, replacing Kyle Okposo
Cousins has not played since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final
The Florida Panthers are going to have a slightly different look when they take the ice for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night in Edmonton.
Florida has been extremely fortunately during their postseason that to not have suffered any major injuries.
As such, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has not been forced to make any drastic or unwanted changes to the team’s lineup as they marched through the Eastern Conference portion of the bracket.
Now, for the first time in nearly a month, Florida has hit a few bumps in the road.
They have lost two straight games to the Edmonton Oilers after jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers have also surrendered three or more goals in three straight games, something they had not done the entire postseason.
On Thursday, the Cats held a full team practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale before heading to the airport and flying back up to Edmonton.
During practice, Florida’s line rushes indicated a change could be coming to the lineup, which would be the second one in as many games.
Earlier this week, following Florida’s loss in Game 4, Maurice elected to move Ryan Lomberg back into the lineup, but only Lomberg, in exchange for Steven Lorentz.
Now Lomberg will be joined by fellow physical forward Nick Cousins, as both are expected to man the wings of Florida’s fourth line, flanking center Kevin Stenlund.
“It’s his turn to draw in,” Maurice said of Cousins after Thursday’s practice.
Cousins, who replaces veteran Kyle Okposo, has not played since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. He’s skated in 11 of Florida’s 22 playoff games, logging an assist, a minus-one rating, 20 penalty minutes and eight shots on goal.
“I really liked where Kyle (Okposo) was at,” Maurice said. “Not that he had a game that changed my mind. I thought he deserved, based on play, to stay in, but the switch was kind of there. I thought if there was a Game 6 that Nick would come in.”
Like Lomberg, Cousins can also provide a shot of energy to the locker room.
“Speed, energy, camaraderie,” Lomberg listed when asked what Cousins could bring to the table. “We’ve been doing it together for a couple years here, so I’m excited to have him back in there.”
Added Maurice: “Those guys who have come in and out of the lineup, you can just tell it’s not easy for them, but in their off time they’re under less game intensity, and they come back and they’re jacked.”
We’ll see if having them both out there makes the different that Maurice hopes it does, as the Panthers are in need of just one win to claim the Stanley Cup.
The puck drops on Game 6 from Rogers Place at 8 p.m.
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