Lundell is earning the trust of Florida's coaching staff while playing some of the biggest games of his life

The Florida Panthers are on the cusp of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season.

One of the big differences between last year’s run and this one is the combination of Florida’s depth and health.

Currently, the Panthers roster consists of 15 forwards and eight defenseman who could step into the lineup and the team wouldn’t skip a beat.

In terms of the quality of that depth, look no further than the forward ranks.

Florida’s top nine forwards have all spent time at one point or another this season on the top line, and their fourth line wingers have played up in the lineup as well.

A key to the depth of the squad is its versatility.

Look no further than a guy like Anton Lundell.

The 22-year-old is in his third NHL season and has been blossoming before our eyes during the playoffs.

Lundell scored the go-ahead goal for Florida with 9:38 to go in the third period of Game 5 on Thursday, helping the Cats earn a crucial victory and take a 3-2 lead over the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“That was huge,” Lundell said of his goal. “We had some good chances in the third (period) and we were playing really good. We kept grinding and trusted that we would get the chance.”

It was a great moment for Lundell.

The young Finn has put in the work this season, excelling for Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice regardless of which lines he’s been centering.

Now Lundell is flourishing on the game’s biggest stage.

“The guy can do some things offensively,” Maurice said. “I'm just happy for one to go in for him because he's just one of those guys that I don't spend a lot of time talking about. He's had a bunch of chances, and I know the skill is there because he’s in the two-hole on our shootouts. He’s lights out. So it’s there.”

Earning the trust of his coaching staff and being counted on to play in the game’s biggest moments is something that is very important to Lundell.

He wants to be the guy whose number is called with the game on the line, whether it’s to score a big goal or make a game-saving defensive hold.

That’s exactly what his line did on Thursday.

“We all wanted to step up, and I felt like it was important for our line to give momentum, give energy to the team,” Lundell said.

Lundell is now up to three goals and 11 points during the playoffs.

All the goals have come in his past eight outings, which includes several games that Maurice had Lundell skating on Florida’s second line between Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe.

Now he’s back on the third line with his buddy Eetu Luostarinen and skilled veteran Vladimir Tarasenko, and all they did was score one of the biggest goals of the season in Game 5.

It’s a testament to Lundell that he can now play with any of Florida’s elite wingers and the lines don’t skip a beat.

Indeed, the future is extremely bright for Lundell with the Panthers.

“I have absolutely no idea how good he can be,” Maurice said of Lundell. “But we’re gonna find out.”

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