‘A relieving moment’: After so many near misses, Panthers’ Weegar finally scores first goal
.JPG "Florida Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar (52) celebrates with Maxim Mamin (98), Eetu Luostarinen (27) and Mason Marchment (17) after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)")
MacKenzie Weegar was seen on the bench, visibly frustrated. In the span of five seconds midway through the second period on Wednesday, the Florida Panthers’ defenseman had two shots blocked and another that went just wide of the net while in the slot against New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
More near misses. More opportunities that passed him by. More
“It’s so bad,” he said. “So bad. So bad. So bad.”
For everything that Weegar has done well for the Panthers this season — and there has been a lot — he had yet to score a goal through the team’s first 29 games of the season.
There was some frustration, for sure. Weegar himself said it was having an impact on him mentally at times.
“We’ve got a good therapist on the team,” Weegar joked.
One period later, he could finally exhale.
After a shot from the point was blocked, Weegar took a pass from Eetu Loustarinen just inside the right circle and fired a slap shot.
Finally, one went into the back of the net. Celebration ensued.
Weegar’s goal early in the third period sparked Florida’s 4-3 comeback win against the Rangers at FLA Live Arena, with the Panthers scoring two more goals during the next nine minutes to take the lead for good.
Not so bad.
“It was definitely a relieving moment,” Weegar said, “and obviously it came at a good time. In that third period, we needed a big goal and I’m happy I could finally step up and get that first one for myself this season.”
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While that was his first goal, Weegar has done his share of stepping up this season in just about every other facet of his game.
The 27-year-old and former seventh-round pick is the only defenseman who has played in all 30 of the Panthers’ games this season. He leads the team with 67 blocked shots and 43 takeaways, is second with 81 hits and is tied for third with 15 assists.
He stuffed the stat sheet against the Rangers — four shots on goal, 12 total shot attempts, four hits, two takeaways and three blocked shots over 25:05.
“He’s been such an important cog here for our group,” interim coach Andrew Brunette said. “His shot attempts, his compete, his battle level. He’s up the ice. He does so many good things for us and his play epitomizes the way we want to play.
But, try all he might, that first goal eluded him for more than a third of the season.
Until Wednesday.
“It was nice to see him finally get rewarded,” Brunette said.
His efforts, of course, haven’t gone unnoticed by his teammates and the coaching staff.
Weegar is second on the team in average time on ice (23:57) behind only Aaron Ekblad, his teammate on Florida’s top defensive pairing.
When the Panthers were down seven players due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols in their 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 16 and had to play with just five defensemen — four of whom had no more than 30 games of NHL experience heading into that game — Weegar shouldered the load.
He was on the ice for a career-high 31:32 that night.
He wore the “A” for alternate captain on his sweater that night.
He was, by default, the leader of the Panthers’ blue line — a role he very well appreciates and embraces when needed.
“He’s a huge part of our team,” winger Anthony Duclair said. “Defensively, offensively, he’s so gifted. He can play all situations in a game.”
His defense has improved over the last few years to the point that the Panthers’ coaching staff moved him to the top defenseman pairing with Ekblad, a one-two punch that Weegar loves being part of and says he hopes the two play together “as long as we play in the NHL.”
“When I got that opportunity,” Weegar said, “I didn’t want to let it go and luckily I don’t think he wanted to let it go either.”
He takes pride in his offense, too — and it finally came around on Wednesday with his first goal of the season.
“I just kind of stayed with it,” Weegar said. “The boys have been great with me and when I got that first goal, all the boys had smiles for me and patted on the back. They’re all happy for me.
“Hopefully,” Weegar added, “many more can come from that and hopefully I don’t have to keep saying ‘it’s so bad’ all the time.”
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