From manufacturing the NHL’s high offense to producing a goaltending tandem able to standout success, the Florida Panthers are a harmful Stanley Cup contender with few faults.
Florida
High-octane Panthers are a dangerous first-round opponent for the Capitals
Recreation 1 is Tuesday in Dawn, Fla. Will probably be the groups’ first assembly within the postseason.
If the Panthers prevail, it could be Florida’s first playoff collection win because it beat Pittsburgh within the 1996 convention finals (earlier than being swept as Colorado claimed the Stanley Cup). Washington has had three straight first-round exits from the playoffs since successful the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2018.
“We all know what they’re able to, the kind of season that that they had, the kind of gamers that they’ve,” Capitals defenseman John Carlson stated. “It’s going to be a terrific check for us. I believe we’re excited to be again within the place to play for the Stanley Cup and that’s the 1st step, and I believe that’s the place our focus is now.”
The Panthers, who received the Presidents’ Trophy because the NHL’s high common season workforce, scored a league-best 4.11 targets per sport. They’d 337 in all, essentially the most within the NHL’s wage cap period and tops within the league because the 1995-96 Pittsburgh workforce that fell to the Panthers within the playoffs notched 362. Florida received 13 in a row earlier than shedding three of its final 4 video games because it rested lots of its high gamers.
Florida’s offense is led by Jonathan Huberdeau, a 28-year-old who had 30 targets and 85 assists for 115 factors in his tenth NHL season. Huberdeau, among the finest playmakers within the league, is the primary participant in franchise historical past to hit the 100-point plateau.
Florida had three different 30-goal scorers: captain Aleksander Barkov (39), Sam Reinhart (33) and Anthony Duclair (31). Sam Bennett (28) wasn’t far off.
Barkov, who has been injury-prone, had one other ailment-filled 12 months. He began the season with a knee-on-knee collision with New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield. He returned to motion lower than two weeks later however shortly suffered one other lower-body harm that induced him to overlook a couple of weeks.
Florida has been with out high defenseman Aaron Ekblad since mid-March due to a leg harm. However he may return throughout the first spherical.
On the commerce deadline, Florida — already stacked with expertise — acquired ahead Claude Giroux from Philadelphia and defenseman Ben Chiarot from Montreal. Giroux, who has slot in properly on the highest line with Barkov, has three targets and 20 assists in 18 video games with Florida.
In web, Florida has a veteran-rookie mixture with Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight.
Bobrovsky is about to be the Recreation 1 starter. The Twelfth-year goaltender, who has been shaky within the postseason, completed with a 39-7-3 file, recording three shutouts, a 2.67 targets in opposition to common and a .913 save proportion. Bobrovsky is 10-13-5 in 30 profession video games in opposition to the Capitals, with a 3.05 targets in opposition to common and an .898 save proportion.
Knight, a 2019 first-round draft decide who turned 21 final month, has been spectacular because the backup. His robust play of late — he was 8-2-0 with a .918 save proportion in his final 10 video games — had some questioning whether or not he may get the Recreation 1 begin.
Knight’s breakout second got here final 12 months, when he turned the second-youngest goalie in NHL historical past to win his postseason debut. He briefly saved the Panthers alive in opposition to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, however Florida fell in six video games.
The Panthers wish to flip round their postseason fortunes. By the seems to be of their roster, they’ve all of the instruments to do it.
“They’re a particularly quick workforce, lot of energy up entrance, lot of scoring functionality,” Capitals middle Lars Eller stated. “It’ll be enjoyable — greatest workforce within the league this 12 months.”