The depth of the Florida Panthers has been tested several times this year. Each time they have responded with the same consistent, gritty play that has them firmly in the playoff discussion midway through the season.
The Cats are 4-1 on the current road trip that ends tonight in Winnipeg. Florida comes into tonight riding the first 3-game winning streak of the year, and looks to keep the momentum going before returning home for a much needed extended stay at home. The Canucks, Flames, and Oilers learned that this is not the same old Panthers team from years past. They never believe they are out of a game and wholeheartedly trust head coach Gerard Gallant's systems.
Aleksander Barkov was just starting to heat up before the flu kept him out of the last to contests. He returns tonight in what is likely going to be a tough game against a bitter rival(going back to the Thrashers days). Once again the Panthers will be able to plug and play different players in the lineup without sacrificing chemistry. Look for Vincent Trocheck or Brandon Pirri to be scratched as a result.
Although the Jets and Panthers are now in different conferences, this is a big game for both teams that are only separated by a point. Winnipeg is currently holding the first wild card spot in the West, and Florida is one point behind Boston for the second wild card in the East with three games in hand. Unlike the past neither team needs to worry about giving the other a point should overtime become a possibility. The Panthers have lost the last four games in Winnipeg.
The Panthers' success this season may come as a surprise to many, but not to GM Dale Tallon, who focused big time on the locker room culture in the offseason by bringing in Willie Mitchell, Dave Bolland, Shawn Thornton, Jussi Jokinen, and Derek MacKenzie. The production and grit on the ice has been outstanding, but the collateral effect goes even deeper. "We're a close-knit team," said Brian Campbell. "We enjoy spending time with each other, we enjoy sacrificing for each other."
That kind of comraderie is exactly what Tallon envisioned, and as the Panthers keep pushing towards the playoffs he may be forced to be a buyer instead of a seller at the trade deadline. That would certainly be a nice change in organizational mindset.
Dan Spiegel...