Panthers getting healthy, refreshed
Team getting healthy, refreshed at prime time
SUNRISE — As the Florida Panthers get prepared to begin a Stanley Cup playoff run with a postseason spot already clinched, a four-day break between games has come at a beneficial time.
Taking two days off following Monday’s 5-4 overtime win over the Dallas Stars, the Panthers were back at practice on Thursday morning at BB&T Center, and so were forwards Carter Verhaeghe, Patric Hornqvist and Sam Bennett, who all missed time with upperbody injuries.
Verhaeghe has missed the last 12 games and Hornqvist five. Bennett was a surprise scratch from Monday’s lineup. There’s optimism all will return for the final two regular-season games against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and Monday ahead of a firstround best-of-seven series that will more than likely be against the same in-state foe.
“Looks promising,” said Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, who has had to constantly shuffle his lineups over the past two months. “Everybody looks like they’re ready to go. We’ll know for sure morning skate [Saturday]. I would think everybody’s ready.”
Florida hasn’t missed a beat offensively over the last four games with 21 goals in that span, but Verhaeghe and Hornqvist provide an infusion of production. They are third and fifth on the Panthers, respectively, in points. Verhae
ghe has 35 points on 17 goals and 18 assists and Hornqvist 32 on 14 goals and 18 assists.
Verhaeghe returned to the Panthers’ top line in practice on Thursday at left wing next to star center Aleksander Barkov and right-winger Anthony Duclair. Bennett, who has 13 points in nine games since being acquired via trade with the Calgary Flames on April 12, was back as the secondline center between star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and rookie Owen Tippett.
“It looks like that could be the playoff look,” said Quenneville, who is inspired by the newfound depth at his disposal. “Having some guys getting some turns and some opportunities to play in some critical situations and moments, and they handled it. That was a good thing for us as an organization and as a team. Hopefully, we get to apply that at the appropriate moments.
“All the lines get a little bit of an adjustment, but it seems like most of the lines have two pieces together. For that, they get reacquainted real quick.”
Huberdeau, who leads the team with 40 assists and 59 points, feels the Panthers have proven resilient when hit with injuries, something the team can build on in the postseason.
“We can battle through it. That’s what we do,” he said. “I think the guys that had a bigger role when we’ve had some guys hurt, they’ve stepped up and answered the bell. That’s what we needed, and that’s why we’ve been a consistent team.
“When you win, I think it’s when you have a lot of depth. You got two lines, you’re not going to go far.”
The four days between games will be followed by another hiatus before the start to the Cup playoffs after the upcoming pair of games
against the Lightning, the NHL’s defending champions. After two days off, the Panthers returned to practice refreshed on Thursday.
“I loved the pace of practice today,” Quenneville said. “I was impressed with it, and it’s been a long time since we’ve even had a normal practice. Guys had some life and some good spirit, and I liked the way they were handling the puck, as well.”
Said Huberdeau: “Today was fun. We haven’t practiced in a while. I think getting a couple of days off, it’s a good refresher for our bodies. We’ve been a better team this year, and it’s just fun to get out there and practice.”
Backup goaltender Chris Driedger is also expected to make his first start back from a lowerbody injury in Monday’s regular-season finale after Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start on Saturday. Twenty-year-old rookie Spencer Knight has also proven capable as the youngest goalie in NHL history to win his first four decisions.