Great first practice has Quenneville ‘shocked’

For the first time since the National Hockey League suspended play in midMarch due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Florida Panthers were all back on the ice together Monday. That’s nearly the span of a normal NHL offseason.

But the dynamics of a training camp ramping up for a five-game playoff series against the New York Islanders are quite different from a normal preseason. And perhaps that comes with an immediate sense of urgency.

“Basically [the message] was, “‘Let’s get back to where we left off before the whole stoppage,’ ” said defenseman Noel Acciari. “We were playing a good team game. Let’s kind of shake the cobwebs off this first practice.”

Panthers coach Joel Quenneville took it a step further.

“I was shocked today how well it went,” Quenneville said. “I was surprised the guys had that much pace to their game

and that much energy. If I had to predict going into it what kind of practice we would’ve had, I was hoping it would be OK. But it was probably as good a practice as we’ve had all year.”

It can be easy to forget the last time Florida was on the ice it had won two in a row and was finally regaining momentum after a dreadful post-All Star break losing streak. Even such, with 13 games remaining, players knew that they faced an uphill battle to reach the playoffs.

Monday’s lively practice is the first sign that they’re trying to make the most of the lifeline afforded by this year’s 24-team playoff. Florida will be the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference.

“Once we got the news that we were in, we’re in the qualifications for the playoffs and we’re gonna play, ever since then, everybody in our team’s been excited and ready for this opportunity,” said center Aleksander Barkov. “Of course, all my focus is on that thing, on winning a Stanley Cup.”

Florida had all 30 of its players on the ice and plans to hold a scrimmage on Tuesday.

Monday’s practice comes on the heels of the NHL’s announcement further specifying the league’s return plan. Florida will play its games in the hub city of Toronto, with games tentatively scheduled to begin on Aug. 1, and the Stanley Cup Finals scheduled to end no later than Oct. 4.

It also comes at a time when the coronavirus continues to rampantly spread across Florida, with over 12,000 reported positive cases on Monday, a day after the state set a record for most cases in the country for a single state in one day at any point in the pandemic.

The Panthers are not taking their public health responsibility lightly. Quenneville had the medical staff address the players Monday and then held a meeting with just players and coaches afterward. Players and coaches were on the same page about taking precautions to keep everyone healthy before heading to Toronto.

“Our priority here is for their safety and their health,” Quenneville said. “So that was a priority for us as a staff and organization, because what we’re looking at, that’s first and foremost. … And being mindful of that not just when you’re at the rink, but away from the rink as well.”

Added Barkov: “Everybody knows the rules. You probably don’t need to go anywhere in Miami or anywhere right now to hangout. You’ve gotta stay home as much as possible. Maybe order your food or try to make your own. Just stay inside. Practices are hard enough for activity for the day. You just go home, rest and get ready for the next day.”

That caution aside, neither Acciari nor Barkov indicated any unease about contact during training or in-practice procedures. If anything, Quenneville made sure to normalize practice as much as possible, from the regular drills to consistency on the lines.

He knows his team has a chance. It appears they’re doing all they can to maximize it.

“It’s tough to say we’re in a better situation than anybody else, but at least we’ve got an opportunity,” Quenneville said. “And our goal at the beginning of the year was to be a playoff team — and now, we’re not being denied that.”