Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Griffith takes advantage
On Seth Griffith’s first shift playing on the Florida Panthers’ revamped top line with Jaromir Jagr and rising star Aleksander Barkov on Saturday night, he exuberantly charged the net looking for a rebound and curled up inside the cage like a trapped golden retriever.
Less than a minute later Griffith circled the net he was just in, fed Barkov on the doorstep for a goal and a quick lead en route to a desperately needed 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
“I was a little nervous playing alongside Jagr,” said Griffith, 23, who has two assists in 13 games. “I watched him growing up so it was a lot of fun. Once the jitters [left] I settled down and started playing, and good things happened.”
Griffith’s line had 14 of the Panthers’ 42 shots on goal and most were prime scoring chances. Leading 2-0 after two, Griffith started a rush up ice early in the third period, and passed to Barkov, who zipped it to Jagr for the shot. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad swooped in for the rebound goal and a much-needed insurance tally.
“It’s just one game, but they played really well,” Panthers interim coach Tom Rowe said. “Obviously, when you get a chance to play with Barkov and Jagr, you’re hoping a guy will take advantage of it, and Seth definitely took full advantage of it.”
Since Jonathan Huberdeau went down with a torn Achilles in the final preseason game, Griffith is the fifth forward to audition for a top-line role, joining Jon Marchessault, Jussi Jokinen, Denis Malgin and most recently a slumping Reilly Smith.
Marchesault was the only one to thrive with a team-leading 10 goals, and he’s expected back Tuesday after missing the past four games with a lower-body injury.
Griffith, who began his career with the Boston Bruins and played with perennial Frank Selke awardwinning Patrice Bergeron, heard Barkov say that he has too much skill to be a bottom-six forward.
“That means a lot, especially coming on a new team, guys saying that, believing in you goes a long way with confidence,” said Griffith, who notched a plus-2 ice rating in 17:21, his second highest total in 47 career games.
“It’s easier said than done, so I’ve got to work hard to try to get in and soak it all in and try to get better every day.”
Megna’s homecoming
Canucks forward Jayson Megna grew up in Chicago a Blackhawks fan, but never forgot his South Florida roots and his first team of choice.
“I still appreciated the Panthers and still had Panthers jerseys in my room growing up. [Pavel] Bure,” said Megna, a Fort Lauderdale native who had a rooting section of about 27 for Saturday’s game.
Megna’s family moved to Chicago when he was four but have since returned, so every summer he rents a place with his brother Jaycob, 24, a Plantation native and seventh-round draft pick by Anaheim, who now plays defense for their AHL affiliate in San Diego.
The Megna brothers work out at the IceDen in the summers.
“My parents moved back down here five years ago,” said Megna, 26, who had four shots on goal and two hits in 11:45. “We go out with [goalie coach Robb
Tallas] early and shoot on [Panthers goalie Roberto
Luongo] and do the skates with the Panthers a month before training camp.”
Megna has played parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2013-16) and then signed with the New York Rangers last season and Canucks this season. In 65 NHL games, he has nine goals and 15 points, including three goals in 11 games this season.
McIlrath leaves a mark
Panthers defenseman
Dylan McIlrath, who had been a healthy scratch for the past 11 games after making a forgettable debut in a 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs in which his turnover handed Toronto a goal, drew rave reviews from Rowe after the game.
McIlrath, who the Panthers acquired from the Rangers for defenseman
Steve Kampfer on Nov. 8, is known for his physical play. McIlrath only played 6:31 but he made his presence felt with a couple of bone-crushing hits.
“I thought Dylan played unbelievable for not playing,” Rowe said. “He has a big hit in the first period and blocked two shots. The entire bench was cheering him on. There was unbelievable chemistry on the bench, so a lot of positives tonight.”