Panthers poised to pounce in playoffs
Both Florida teams heading to post-season for just second time in their collective history
TAMPA, Fla. — A year ago, the road to the Stanley Cup went through the Sunshine State.
With all due respect to the dominant regular season being laid down by the Washington Capitals, it may well happen again.
This time, however, the reigning Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning have company in their cross-state hockey cousins, the Florida Panthers.
For just the second time in the history of both franchises — and the first since 1996 — both Florida teams are destined for the Stanley Cup tournament. And based on current form, at least, the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers have emerged as contenders.
On Saturday here at Amalie Arena, the Panthers defeated the Lightning 5-2 in a game billed as the most significant of the 122 times the two franchises have met. Why? Well, first place in the Atlantic was on the line and in the 20-plus years both have been in the league, never have the two been so good at the same time.
“Lately, Tampa has done a great job and we’re just trying to catch up to them,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in an interview. “We can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
“I think it’s great for hockey that both of us can be competitive now. It’s helping us. It’s a real positive for the state of Florida.”
With a win over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday in Sunrise, the Panthers would set a club for victories in a season and inch closer to locking up a playoff spot. They’ve done it with a core of draft picks that have developed into productive and dangerous NHLers and relatively recently supplemented by veterans such as the ageless Jaromir Jagr and goaltender Roberto Luongo.
So while the Lightning may have put up a good fight with the Chicago Blackhawks in the Cup final last spring, the Panthers made a significant statement this year winning four of five against their intra-state rival.
“You look at (the Lightning), they went to the Stanley Cup finals last year and we know they’re a great hockey team,” second-year Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. “We played them pretty well this year and it’s a good challenge.”
The script for the Panthers’ success sounds much like the one being preached by Brendan Shanahan and Lou Lamoriello in Toronto. In reality, it’s one that has already been practised by Tallon, who gets (and deserves) much of the credit for building the modern dynasty in Chicago.
You need high draft picks (and plenty of them). And once those players are developed and ready, add some proven veterans as a finishing touch.
“I’ve done it before so I know what it takes,” Tallon said. “It’s not easy, but you’ve got to pay the price. You have to be patient and you have to have good support and pay the price.
“It’s a little tougher in a market like Toronto because you’re scrutinized more than you would be in Florida or even Chicago. You just have to stick to your guns, have a plan and believe in it.”
The Panthers’ roster is thick with examples of draft success — from defenceman Aaron Ekblad (first overall, 2014) to centres Nick Bjugstad (19th overall, 2010) and Alexander Barkov (2nd overall, 2013) and winger Jonathan Huberdeau (3rd overall, 2011). And that’s just a partial list of effective draft picks in the Panthers lineup.
“The players they are drafting are difference makers,” former NHL general manager, George McPhee said. “They’re not just good players, they’re really good players. They have good size. The Panthers have done it the right way.
“(Tallon) was really good at it in Chicago and he’s really good at it here.”
The Panthers are about to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2012 and just the second since 2000. The signs, like the plan, were in place a year ago when they recorded 91 points and the Florida cats built on that optimism.
“Last year we had a pretty good team and this year we came in and were confident at what we were capable of doing,” Huberdeau said. “This year we showed everyone and ourselves what we could do, that we are a good team now and contenders. We’re feeling comfortable and playing well.
“We’ve got some big wins against good teams and we’ve shown we’re ready for the playoffs.”
With seven games remaining, the Panthers have a two-point edge on the Lightning for top spot in the Atlantic and with each of their remaining contests against non -playoff teams, their prospects look good.
The Panthers haven’t clinched yet, but it’s coming. And so is the anticipation of a significant playoff run.
“We played a lot of meaningful games down the stretch (last season) and that was a big step for our club,” Luongo said. “This year was a big year for us and we wanted to make sure we learned from the previous year.
“We have a lot of skill but we also have some guys who have won and have been there that can hopefully guide the younger guys. Once you get in, you never know.”
“I think it’s great for hockey ... It’s a real positive for the state of Florida.” — Panthers GM Dale Tallon