The Panthers winning streak was inevitably going to end. The question now is, how do they respond? Playoff caliber teams are able to shrug off the loss and begin a new winning streak. Against an opponent ahead of them in the division standings, we will get a great indication of what this Panthers team is made of when they face off against the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7:30.
The Numbers
[table id=TS02G28 /] [table id=IS02G28 /] [table id=GM02G28 /]* – Stats are courtesy of War-on-Ice.com, Puckalytics.com and Hockey-Reference.com
Projected Lineups
[table id=PRPF02G27 /] [table id=PRPD02G27 /] [table id=PRPG02G06 /] [table id=PROF02G28 /] [table id=PROD02G28 /] [table id=PROG02G28 /]The Rundown
The Panthers are finally returning home after a long 5 game road trip that saw the team pick up 8 of a possible 10 points. The two points dropped, however, were the ones that were needed the most. Fresh off the first 3+ game win streak in two years, the Panthers lost a critical game to the Devils in New Jersey on Sunday night. While there were some positives to take away from the game, the Panthers will be looking to forget about the loss to New Jersey and return to their stellar form exhibited in the five games prior.
The importance of this game cannot be understated. With the loss on Sunday to New Jersey, the Panthers still sit on the wrong side of the playoffs. While there is still a large chunk of the season remaining, the Panthers need to take matters into their own hands and start winning games against teams around them in the standings.
It won’t be an easy task, as the Panthers have split points with the Senators in each of the last two years, and have particularly struggled to score goals against Craig Anderson. While any two points would be nice, it is imperative the Panthers win the game in regulation. This is no small task, as the Senators have been to overtime more than any other team in the league, having been to the 3 on 3 session 11 times already this year.
The key for the Panthers is to start well and, most importantly, score the first goal. The Panthers have just one loss this season when leading after the first period. With how stingy they have been defensively in the first period, the Panthers should push for the early lead and not let the Senators settle into their game.
One thing to look for is how Gallant will use his bench. Last game, with the Panthers down by two goals, Barkov was out nearly every other shift along with Huberdeau and Jagr. If Gallant jumps out ahead of the game and gives this line their minutes early on, the Panthers may be able to comfortably roll four lines the rest of the game with a solid lead under their belts.
If Barkov does not see the minutes he did on Sunday, then he needs to play against the Senators’ top line. He has proven time and again this year that matchups don’t matter to him. Whether he is matching up against the other team’s best or worst line, he will create offensive chances. He has dominated play in nearly every game this year, and it will only continue as he gets more comfortable and confident in his role.
It will be interesting to see whether Nick Bjugstad draws back into the lineup, and if he does, what his line will look like. WhyHockey has been calling for the reunion of Huberdeau and Bjugstad for some time now, but with the way Huberdeau played in New Jersey alongside Barkov and Jagr, I couldn’t blame Gallant if he chooses to continue using that line. (Editor’s note: it appears Bjugstad will be out once again, as Panthers will go with the same lineup, per George Richards.) This means that Reilly Smith, who has been playing very well of late, will be on a line with Bjugstad and presumably Brandon Pirri. By doing this, Gallant is opening up the third line to have more of an offensive role, something that Vincent Trocheck can benefit from. Production from the third line, however, hinges on the decision of where to put Dave Bolland. If he slots into the top 9, the Panthers will need to roll the Barkov line like they did on Sunday to increase scoring chances.
When all said and done, this game hinges on the performance of one man: Roberto Luongo. Aside from some uncharacteristic goals against in New Jersey, Luongo has been incredible lately, and the main reason for the recently ended win streak. Luongo is the heart and soul of this team and the success of this club will rest on his shoulders. If he can continue his strong play and manage to give up two or less goals, the Panthers should have every opportunity to win.
Players to Watch
Florida Panthers:
Jonathan Huberdeau has been on fire lately, with two goals on the road trip. He played his best game of the season in New Jersey and looks like he has regained his confidence in the offensive zone.
Aleksander Barkov has been taking the next step in becoming an NHL superstar. He was relied upon to get the Panthers back into the game Sunday after they dug themselves an early 2-0 hole, amassing nearly 22 minutes of ice time, one assist, and winning 86% of his faceoffs. It seems every shift he creates a chance, and has registered 7 points in his last 9 games.
Ottawa Senators:
Erik Karlsson is putting together another strong season, with 32 points so far. He is the main reason they find themselves in a divisional playoff spot over a quarter of the way through the season.
Mike Hoffman has been heating up lately. With six goals in his last five games, and 14 on the season, Hoffman is on pace for around 40 goals.
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