Win tonight and the Florida Panthers head to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row.
But it won’t be easy…
We know elimination games are typically the toughest to win. Despite the Cats sustained pressure in games, this series has been a tight one. New York has had really good points of pressure and looks in each of the five games thus far. With Zibanejad and Kreider finally finding the twine in Game 5, Florida will need to really clamp down on them to make sure they don’t get into a groove.
Similar to the Rangers top guys being quiet, some of Florida’s big guns have also laid low. What a boost it would be if Tkachuk and Montour could get back to the level of play we saw in last year’s postseason. Those guys were in beast mode.
TONIGHT
There’s going to be a massive pushback by the Rangers. We know that. And with the Cats playing better on the road than at home, I anticipate Florida having to weather a pretty tough storm from the opening puck drop while on home ice.
They can combat this, however, by binging the game to NY - much like they have throughout the series through a relentless forecheck. Game 5 also showed us that when the Rangers tried playing the Panthers’ game (which they did well at times), they seemed to be gassed out by the third period. Florida should look to keep NY moving at a constant up-tempo as a way to strain conditioning and tire t(em out.
Being in elimination’s grip, I would also imagine New York will be taking some chances tonight. I don’t see them playing too conservatively, unless they manage to get a lead. In order to do that, my gut tells me they’ll be playing more open.
This will be an opportunity for the Panthers to take advantage of mistakes or New York getting out of position. Florida will have to think clearly tonight. Don’t get drawn out of position or start scrambling when New York picks up the pace. Take what they give you and pick your spots wisely.
The Panthers would be wise to take their PK mentality and continue to apply it to five-on-five. We saw some uncharacteristic puck handling/turnovers from NY in Game 4 when the Cats took away the Rangers’ time and their ability to think.
Stenlund on Florida's PK, which has allowed just 1 goal in the series.
"It starts with faceoffs. You win that, you kill off a good amount of seconds. After that, we just pressure. It’s a lot of pressure. [We try] to not give them time and space.” pic.twitter.com/rPnHIhjdaz
I, like many, have praised the play of Shesterkin. He has been great for NY. However, there is another great goalie on the opposite side of the ice in Bob, and we need him to be big again tonight.
It’s sure to be an intense one. Time to grip it and rip. Finish the job, Cats!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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