Three takeaways: Game not very physical, Panthers showed discipline despite falling behind
Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett have been showing off their amazing chemistry since being reunited on Florida's second line
The Florida Panthers dropped a frustrating game on Tuesday night in Washington D.C.
Florida fell behind multiple times and kept tying the game until the Capitals pulled away during the third period thanks to a pair of empty-net goals.
It was one of those nights where the Panthers did a lot of things right and played well enough to earn two points, though saying that when they allowed six goals feels a but funny.
Alas, a loss is a loss.
Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways.
NOT A VERY PHYSICAL AFFAIR
Considering this was a heavyweight matchup of the two Eastern Conference division leaders, there was a thought that it would feel a bit like a playoff game.
That wasn’t really the case.
Washington plays more of a stretch game than they do a possession game. It’s a high-flying and exciting brand of hokey, not that dissimilar of how the Panthers played during their Presidents’ Trophy-winning season a few years ago.
Still, it was a little surprising to see this game avoid going down the physical avenue. Curious what will happen when the Caps reach the playoffs.
“I didn't find it nearly as physical as I thought it would get to,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I think if the two teams played in the playoffs it would be way heavier than that.”
FLORIDA NEVER CHASED THE GAME
Despite falling behind early and often, the Panthers never game out of their game.
This is nothing new, as Florida is a mature team that knows more times than not, when they stick to the program, things have a way of working out.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case on this night.
“I thought that we were really good in that mindset,” Maurice said. “When they scored, there was no panic. We didn't get behind it, we tied it, they scored again, no big deal. Not that you're sitting on the bench thinking this is going to be easy, but our game didn't really change. Even in the third, it opened up a little bit there toward the end, but that part I was pleased with. I didn't think we changed our game.”
CHUCKY AND BENNY HEATING UP
The combination of Matthew Tkahcuk and Sam Bennett has been one of the most consistent among Florida’s forward group for the past few seasons now.
Maurice mixed up the lines earlier this season, putting Tkachuk on the top line with Sasha Barkov for a few weeks.
It was during Florida’s loss in Las Vegas a couple weeks back that Maurice moved Tkachuk back to Bennett’s line, and the two have responded quite well.
In the four games since, Tkachuk has scored in each, accumulating seven points, while Bennett has scored twice and added an assist.
What should be fun to watch is when rookie Mackie Samoskevich, who has been out with an illness but had been playing the best hockey of his young career previously, returns to the lineup and potentially re-joins Bennett and Tkachuk on that second line.
“(Tkachuk) and Sam Bennett are kind of back together, close together, making some short area plays,” Maurice said. “Sam's back going pretty darn good for us, and we need that. We need more than one line producing, and they were carrying it for us tonight.”
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