Could Panthers reshuffle lineup after exhibition blowout? And good news on top defensemen
First impressions always matter and, in this case, the Florida Panthers’ first impression was also their only impression — at least in the last four months — before they begin the expanded postseason this weekend. The Panthers’ first impression was ugly enough to wonder: Does Florida already need to make some lineup changes in Toronto?
Florida did virtually nothing well in its 5-0 exhibition loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Given it was the Panthers’ first live action against a different opponent since March, it was fair to wonder how heavily Joel Quenneville would weigh the exhibition game when setting his lineup for the start of the qualifying round Saturday. While he wouldn’t commit one way or another, the coach also didn’t rule anything out.
“We’re extremely disappointed with yesterday’s game. It was one of those games that you’re thinking and looking at all aspects and all areas,” Quenneville said when asked if he planned to shake up his lineup for the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. “We visited with lines and we practiced in our groups today, but certainly it kind of caught us off guard.”
Florida fell behind 2-0 in the first period and the Lightning’s lead quickly ballooned to 4-0 before the midpoint of the second. Superstar goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who will start in net Saturday against the New York Islanders, was in goal for all five of Tampa Bay’s goals.
Defenseman Mike Matheson, who played on the third defensive pairing, was also on the ice for all five. The Panthers’ top line of center Aleksander Barkov, and wingers Evgenii Dadonov and Frank Vatrano combined for just five shots, and All-Star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau put just one on net.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended the regular season in March, Quenneville tinkered with Florida’s lines, leading to a two-game winning streak just before the break. He moved Huberdeau down to the second line and bumped up Vatrano, hoping to spread out Barkov and Huberdeau to hopefully give the Panthers a slightly deeper lineup. On Wednesday, no one benefited.
As Florida kept saying, it was just exhibition, but it was ugly enough to be concerning, especially since a best-of-five series now looms.
Quenneville, the oldest coach in the league, is one of the few people around hockey with firsthand experience of how a best-of-five NHL series feels. When he started his playing career, the first round of the playoffs was always best-of-five. He knows better than anyone how quickly urgency can set in.
“You’re always talking about doing the right thing, shift in, shift out, finding consistency in your game, but you’re only playing to win that shift and win that period, and in the short series anything can happen,” Quenneville said. “Across the board, getting off to a good start is important.”
MacKenzie Weegar returns to practice
The one place the lineup definitely will change for Saturday is on defense. After Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar both sat out the exhibition game, the Panthers’ top defensive pairing reunited on the ice Thursday at practice in Canada.
The two defensemen both practiced and are in position to play Saturday when Florida opens the postseason against at Scotiabank Arena.
“I feel great. I feel ready to go,” Ekblad said. “I’m really excited to play here in the playoffs against the Islanders. It’s really exciting. It’s something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time, and we’re finally here and we want to seize this opportunity.”
Ekblad missed the final three practices of the Panthers’ postseason training camp last week at the Florida Panthers IceDen, but did return to the ice Monday for Florida’s first practice inside the NHL’s Ontario “secure zone.” The 24-year-old Canadian did not play in the exhibition game as a precaution.
Weegar’s absence, however, was unexpected after he went through the entirety of the Coral Springs training camp unscathed. After practice Monday, coach Joel Quenneville did not mention any concerns about Weegar’s status, either, but he mysteriously scratched him for the scrimmage. A day later, Weegar was back at practice.
“He was fine today. He practiced, did a good job, looked good,” Quenneville said. “We liked his practice, too, as well, so it was a good day for him.”
Florida did not give reasons for either of the defensemen’s absences, although it is unlikely they were related to COVID-19 given how brief they were.
“They are key players,” Bobrovsky said, “and we’re excited to get them back, and be in the lineup and help us to compete.”
