Projecting the Panthers’ lineup to begin their playoff series with the Lightning
Need an example of how much deeper the Florida Panthers’ forward group is heading into this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs than last year, when the team won it all for the first time in franchise history?
Consider this: Evan Rodrigues, who was part of Florida’s top line for most of last season’s playoff run and produced 15 points (including a team-high seven in the Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers), very likely could be on the Panthers’ fourth line when the team begins its Stanley Cup playoff run on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning (8:30 p.m., ESPN/Scripps Sports).
That’s not a knock on Rodrigues, who scored 15 goals and had 32 points this season. It’s just a matter of coach Paul Maurice maximizing what he has at his disposal.
The Panthers’ top three forward lines when the team is fully healthy (read: When star winger Matthew Tkachuk returns from his injury sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off) appear to be set.
The top line would be Aleksander Barkov centering Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart.
The second line would be Sam Bennett centering Mackie Samoskevich and Tkachuk.
(Note: If Tkachuk isn’t cleared to play Tuesday — and Maurice said a decision won’t come until after the team’s practice on Monday at the earliest — then Rodrigues most likely replaces him on the second line.)
And the third line would be Anton Lundell centering Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand.
As for the fourth line, Maurice essentially has six players — Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, Nico Sturm, A.J. Greer, Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek and — for the final three spots.
Maurice has liked what he has seen from the line of Greer, Nosek and Gadjovich lately and for good reason. Over the six-game stretch they played together at the end of the regular season, they held opponents scoreless in their 24:41 on the ice together at five-on-five while having a 70-34 edge in shot attempts on their opponents and allowing just 12 total scoring chances.
However, Sturm is an integral piece of Florida’s penalty kill, and Rodrigues has been part of Florida’s second power-play unit all season.
As for the final spot, it looks like Maurice is going with Boqvist, who will help counteract the speed element to the Lightning’s game.
If the Panthers need a physical tone setter or an injury occurs, one would think Greer or Gadjovich is the first option off the bench.
Maurice mixed and matched the wingers on his fourth line during the playoff run last season, with Nick Cousins, Steven Lorentz, Kyle Okposo and Ryan Lomberg going in and out depending on matchups and availability. That of course is an option as well.
Defense pairs
Another decision Maurice is still trying to finalize for the short term is the makings of his defense pairings until Aaron Ekblad returns from his suspension, which runs through the first two games of the opening round of the playoffs.
After rotating players extensively over the final month-plus of the season with Ekblad suspended and Dmitry Kulikov missing extended time with an upper-body injury, Maurice’s defense pairings for the first two games against the Lightning appear to be set.
Gustav Forsling will be paired with Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola and Kulikov will reunite after playing together most of the season, and Nate Schmidt and Uvis Balinskis should occupy the third pairing.
When Ekblad returns for Game 3 of the playoffs, he’ll slide back to his usual spot with Forsling, Mikkola and Jones will be paired together and Schmidt and Kulikov will most likely occupy the third pairing.
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