"Obviously we were missing a lot of players the last couple games due to COVID and injuries. It wasn't the same team that we'd had the whole season. Now, almost everyone is back and everyone else [that isn't back yet] is going to come back soon. We're almost back to normal."
This is a quote from Alexander Barkov regarding the Panthers current health situation. As someone who has missed the last 12 of 13 games due to injury, I’m sure Barky is eager to get back into things.
Barkov and others coming back from injury/off the COVID list is happening at a key time with the league returning from its unscheduled hiatus.
In fact, this might be the most pivotal time for the Panthers’ season.
For a good portion of this season the Panthers were atop the Atlantic Division and the league as a whole. They have since slipped to third in the Atlantic - with the Leafs in second and Tampa in first - and sixth in the league.
Certainly not a bad position to be in by any means, but they started showing some cracks in the haul lately.
Healthy and under Q, this team had everything clicking and there was a winning swagger there. Fast forward to Q’s departure, the toll that injuries/COVID have taken and the league’s short break due to the outbreak and you can see the effect some of this “battle damage… has had on this team.
But for the first time in what feels like a long time, this team is healthy and ready to go. Check out these lines at the morning skate:
#FlaPanthers forward lines this AM:
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) December 29, 2021
Verhaeghe - Barkov - Duclair
Huberdeau - Bennett - Reinhart
Marchment - Lundell - Mamin
Lomberg - Luostarinen - Hornqvist
Vatrano - Thornton - Tippett
Jameson Olive also confirmed (via Brunette) that Barky, Huby, Marchment and Mamin are on track to be in the lineup tonight.
Brunette on Florida's depth: "To see the full team back together, they're going to have to push each other to stay in the lineup. The competition is really healthy. It's fun to have those decisions. It's hard taking guys out, but the competition is really good for our guys."
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) December 29, 2021
It’s going to be interesting to see what the final lines look like tonight. As you can see from Jameson’s post, those morning lines are loaded with talent. Brunette is right in his statement about it being hard to take guys out - there’s just so many options now. With everyone healthy again, seeing those names ready to play reminds me of the excitement of heading into this season knowing that this roster is loaded with serious ability.
And so the question becomes: Do they now get back on track to how they were playing at the beginning of the season?
They will have a pretty good test tonight against a Rangers team that sits in third of the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the league.
New York has been good defensively, surrendering an average of 2.53 goals per game. This should be an interesting clash with a Panthers team that averages 3.50 goals per game, but struggling lately and looking to get back to the high level of play we saw earlier in the season. These plans could be complicated for the Panthers if Shesterkin is in the blue paint for the Rags.
Oh…and Florida forwards should have their head up when Trouba - who has somehow morphed into Scott Stevens recently - is on the ice.
The Cats’ defense will have its hands full with the likes of Panarin, Zibanejad, Krieder and Strome. Forcing these guys to the outside when possible will be a big help for Bob - who owns a solid 2.46 GAA and .917 SV%.
Let’s also minimize the running around we’ve been doing during this recent three-game skid - know your assignment, fellas.
Keep your eyes open for former-Panther Dryden Hunt now sporting a blue sweater. ___________________
I’m predicting an exciting game tonight. The little break helped the Cats get healthy and should be ready to clash against a good/competitive Rangers team.
Add to that the fact that it’s Heritage Night, so we should be getting some luck from our old friend the leaping cat.
Glad to have hockey back…Go Panthers!
[Image from Florida Panthers Virtual Vault]