Three takeaways: Battle of elite Rangers, Panthers squads decided by special teams
Florida captain Sasha Barkov logged three assists for the second consecutive game
The Florida Panthers are in the midst of a very challenging holiday week, facing a few of the league’s top teams in the span of just a few days.
So far, the Panthers have passed the test with flying colors, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and Wednesday, respectively, before taking down the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers on Friday night at Amerant Bank Arena.
Not only are the Panthers picking up key wins, but they’re doing it playing their style of hockey.
The win over the Rangers had all the familiar feelings of a high-intensity playoff matchup.
A loud, packed arena hanging on the edge of their seats over each shot, save, goal and hit.
For the Panthers, it’s just the second time this season they’ve won at least three games in a row.
Let’s get right into the takeaways…
A great game between two excellent teams
There was definitely a playoff feel to Friday’s game between the Panthers and Rangers.
A loud, packed arena for a back and fourth game between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
There isn’t much more to say about it other than it was great for the home team to come away with two big points in front of the biggest crowd of the season.
“It was a really exciting game,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said afterwards. “There was some high-end offensive at both ends, like really good shooters, some great saves, and then a whole bunch that just missed, so it felt even. That's a game that you never really feel that there's a lead, where you just have to lock it down because both teams still generated an awful lot toward the end of it.”
Strong night for special teams
As nice as it was for Florida to pick up a big win over a high-end opponent, the fact that they did it thanks to a strong night on special teams makes it all the more satisfying.
Florida went 1-for-3 on the power play, putting up five shots on goal while up a man.
The Cats also went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill against the Rangers and their league-leading power play.
That makes it 16 consecutive penalty kills for the Panthers over their past five games.
“It's good for our power play,” Maurice said. “Because it's had – enough with the analytics – but it was so good at the start of the year, they just couldn't score, and then we had some games where I think we felt that was the difference in the game that we couldn't get one to go for us, and now it's the biggest game the in the elite games – Vegas and the Rangers, the teams are at the top – our power play has come through. Our penalty kill has been pretty darn solid now for about a month and a half, so I think we feel confident.”
Another big night for Barkov
In the two games the Florida Panthers have played since coming out of the NHL’s holiday break, captain Sasha Barkov has been on a nice little heater.
Barkov logged three assists during Florida’s 3-2 win in Tampa Bay on Wednesday, and then he followed it up with another three helpers in the Panthers 4-3 win over the Rangers.
The most recent four of those six assists were all primary helpers.
While the numbers may be showing up on the scoresheet more recently, Maurice thinks Barkov has been having one of, if not the best season of his career.
“I think he's been like that all year. I think there's a major difference in the style of game that he's playing now and the one that I remember,” Maurice said. “He's not playing a puck game solely; it's not just about passes and touches and things like that. He's physically involved in the game, and he's fast. He's noticeably quicker this year.”
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