Florida sits three points back of the final Wild Card spot heading into four-game road trip
Florida sits three points back of the final Wild Card spot heading into four-game road trip
After going an entire month without leaving the State of Florida, the suddenly reeling Panthers will get a week of visiting team locker rooms, fancy hotels and group bus rides as their season hangs in the balance.
The last time Florida played a game outside of the Sunshine State was on Feb. 18 in Nashville. They lost 7-2 to the Predators that day, but were just one point back of the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders for the two Wild Card spots.
Now it’s a full month later and unfortunately for Florida, instead of making up ground during that time, they find themselves with a distance further to travel.
Entering Monday, the Panthers have 79 points in the bank and nine games left to play while sitting on the outside of a playoff spot looking in.
Pittsburgh has 82 points and also nine games remaining while the Islanders have 83 points but only eight games to go. They occupy the two Wild Card spots.
When Florida returns from its final extended road trip of the season there will only be five games remaining on the schedule.
If the Panthers aren’t able to make up some ground in the standings, it will be that much more difficult to overcome either Pittsburgh or the Islanders for a Wild Card spot.
It’s not going to be easy.
First, three games in eastern Canada. Three tough buildings to play in, and a back-to-back in Toronto and Montreal.
But it gets easier because they wrap up the trip with a stop against lowly Columbus? Not so fast.
Florida was flying high heading into last week’s stop in Philly and we saw how that ended. The Blue Jackets game will also be Florida’s fourth in six nights, all on the road.
At this stage of the season, teams have to be at their best regardless of the opponent.
If the Panthers are going to reach the playoffs, they’re going to be playing some great hockey when they get there.
There’s really no other way.
ANTON'S TURN
Sam Bennett will miss his fourth straight game. Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice continues to consider him day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Anton Lundell will slot into the second line center spot between Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk.
“That was the simplest move that I didn’t make three games ago when Sam (Bennett) went down,” Maurice said.
Eetu Luostarinen was first put in the spot, taking him off the top line with Sasha Barkov and Anthony Duclair.
Lundell has had what some would call a sophomore slump, accumulating just 28 points in 64 games so far this year, compared to 44 points in 65 games during his rookie campaign.
“It’s Anton’s turn,” Maurice said. “This is his second full year in the National Hockey League and we need him to take that. Sam Bennett does some unusual things, he drives that line, he adds speed to Verhaeghe, which Tkachuk needs, and he’s got the grit and bite in the game that Verhaeghe needs. We need Anton to come in and fill that role.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Colin White on the team mindset: “I don’t think we liked our last three games. This is a must-win road trip for us so I think we’re going to come ready to play tonight.”
Anthony Duclair on the keys to success: “Just play our game and have fun. I think we put too much pressure on ourselves. I think when we're uptight and play with that pressure, we don't produce, so I think for our group, we're a loose group and we like to have fun. I think every time we play that way, I think we have success, so I think that's going to be our mentality for tonight.”
Paul Maurice on stepping up: "This is the exciting time. These are the games you want to be at your best, where everybody is watching in Florida and Ottawa and probably Pittsburgh and five other cities. We’re all watching each other now and you want to be at your best. You want to be that guy that played his best game in the most pressure."