Panthers trying to build a ‘template’ for shut-down third periods. How it’s going so far
The Florida Panthers under coach Paul Maurice have traded their high-flying scoring ways for a more disciplined, defense-first mentality.
The effects have been seen through Florida’s first nine games, where every game has been close entering the third period and the Panthers have had to find ways to grind out the final 20 minutes.
“This is a learned skill,” coach Paul Maurice said. “You’re not going to shut every game down, but you want to have a template.”
The Panthers are still learning, but they are also seeing success in that final frame.
Florida (5-3-1) enters its Tuesday game against the Arizona Coyotes (2-5-1), the first of four games on the West Coast this week, having outscoring opponents 12-9 in the third period while also having the edge in shots on goal (102-89) and scoring chances (112-78) in the final period. Opponents have logged fewer than 10 third-period shots on goal in five of nine games against Florida.
And this has happened with just about all of Florida’s games being close entering that final frame. The Panthers have yet to enter a third period this season with a multi-goal lead.
Of Florida’s nine games so far this season, the Panthers were either tied or had a one-goal lead entering the third period six times. The Panthers are 5-0-1 in those games.
They trailed by one goal going into the third period once, Oct. 17 against the Boston Bruins when they had just four active defensemen available for the closing stretch of the game. They allowed three of their nine third-period goals in that game.
And in the two games that Florida had multi-goal deficits entering the third period — regulation road losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers — the Panthers still found a way to rally to within a goal late.
“That’s what playoff hockey is about,” forward Nick Cousins said. “I think we’re comfortable in those games, knowing in the third period you can hold a lead and not give them anything off the rush and time offensively. That’s what’s going to help us in the playoffs.”
The game-by-game breakdown of Florida’s third periods so far this season are as follows:
▪ Oct. 13, at New York Islanders (3-1 win): Florida led 1-0 going into the third. The Islanders tied the game 3:13 into the final period before Patric Hornqvist scored the go-ahead goal 30 seconds later on a wraparound behind the net and Matthew Tkachuk iced the win with an empty-netter with 1:15 left.
▪ Oct. 15, at Buffalo Sabres (4-3 win): The Panthers led 4-3 entering the third and neither team scored in final period. Florida held Buffalo to five shots on goal in the final period.
▪ Oct. 17, at Bruins (5-3 loss): Florida entered the final period down 2-1 and down two defensemen (Brandon Montour missed the game and Aaron Ekblad left with a groin injury). Boston scored two goals to go up 4-1 with 7:29 left before the Panthers got the game back within one goal with 1:37 left on goals from Gustav Forsling and Colin White. A Boston empty-net goal 25 seconds later sealed the Panthers’ loss.
▪ Oct. 19, vs Flyers (4-3 win): Tied 2-2 going to third, Florida got goals from Rudolfs Balcers and Josh Mahura in first 9:08 of the period to go up 4-3 and shut out the Flyers in the frame until Philadelphia got a cheap goal with 3 seconds left.
▪ Oct. 21, vs Tampa Bay Lightning (3-2 overtime loss): Florida led 2-1 going to third, but Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point tied it midway through the period and then scored the game-winner on a power-play in overtime.
▪ Oct. 23, vs Islanders (3-2 win): Florida led 2-1 entering third and extended its lead with a Ryan Lomberg one-timer three minutes into the frame. The Islanders had just seven shots on goal in the third period, with their lone goal in the frame coming on a power play.
▪ Oct. 25, at Blackhawks (4-2 loss): Florida trailed 3-0 entering the third period but scored two goals within 75 seconds of each other midway through the period to get within one before a Chicago empty-net goal with 23 seconds thwarted the comeback bid. Chicago had just six shots on goal in the final period
▪ Oct. 27, at Flyers (4-3 loss): Florida trailed 4-2 going into the final period but quickly got the deficit to one with a Brandon Montour power-play goal 33 seconds into the frame. Florida outshot Philadelphia 21-5 in the final frame, but the Montour goal was the only one they were able to tally.
▪ Oct. 29, vs Ottawa Senators (5-3 win): Florida led 3-2 going into the third. Ottawa tied the game about 12 minutes into period but Florida scored two goals in final 3:32.
“Of course we’re trying to score as many goals as we can,” center Anton Lundell said, “but defense is the most important thing.”
This story was originally published November 1, 2022 at 12:26 PM.
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