The Florida Panthers have some work to do.
After dropping both games to the Toronto Maple Leafs over the past few days, the Panthers now find themselves in a tough 0-2 hole.
There is some good news for the Panthers, despite the losses.
Now they’ll travel back to South Florida, where they’ll host the next two games in the series at Amerant Bank Arena and try to claw their way back to even.
Let’s get to Wednesday’s takeaways:
BETTER THAN GAME 1
For what it’s worth, Florida looked better during Game 2 on Wednesday than they did in the series opener two nights prior.
In some ways, at least.
Possession time and physicality were more in-tune with what we’re used to seeing from the Panthers.
On the other hand, they were allowing far more rush opportunities than they generally do, and it didn’t help that Sergei Bobrovsky struggled a bit in goal.
Bottom line, just like after Game 1, there is plenty for the Panthers to clean up.
“You have to understand your game,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “We didn’t love our Game 1, but we liked our game here tonight. We came out on the road, we lost two one-goal games, and we get to go back home now.”
RUSH GOALS AN ISSUE
Generally, Florida is a team that keeps the rush game out of their affairs.
They’re not built for the north-south game, and they do well when it comes to hindering opposing teams’ opportunities to get out on the rush and convert.
That wasn’t the case on Wednesday.
Toronto had several high-end opportunities that were generated off the rush, and it’s how they scored two of their goals.
As Maurice pointed out, both of them came on plays where the puck started on a Florida player’s stick.
“We were late in the first game on some of those, but we had control of the puck on both of them,” said Maurice. “That transition, that’s where you’d like to be able to hang on to it a little bit more perhaps.”
THIRD LINE HUMMING
If there is one thing that is rolling for the Panthers it’s their third line.
The combination of Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand has been unstoppable.
All four of them are riding four-game point streaks.
They have combined for 22 points during those four games.
Impressive possession is only matched by equally stellar defensive play with these guys. It’s been amazingly fun to watch.
“I don’t really view them as a third line, based on their production,” said Maurice. “They’ve been good since they’ve been together, and I think they’re still getting better, they’re still growing. There’s lots we can do with that line playing as well as it is.”
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