Panthers’ top line hasn’t scored yet in Stanley Cup Final. Is it a cause for concern?
The Florida Panthers’ top forward features the back-to-back Selke Trophy winner in center Aleksander Barkov and this year’s runner up for the trophy in Sam Reinhart.
The duo has lived up to the billing for the award, which is given annually to the NHL’s best forward, through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers as they regularly go against stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They have held Edmonton to just one goal in 39:16 when on the ice together at five-on-five.
But the offensive production? That has left something to be desired.
While the Panthers have held a slight edge in shot attempts (45-43) and scoring chances (25-16) with Reinhart and Barkov on the ice at full strength, they have yet to find the back of the net at five-on-five this series, which is tied 1-1 and continues with Game 3 at 8 p.m. Monday (TNT, truTV, Max) from Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena.
Barkov, who has 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) this postseason, has just five shots on goal and seven scoring chances through the first two games against Edmonton, a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 and a 5-4 double overtime win in Game 2.
Reinhart, who has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) this postseason, has nine shots on goal and a team-leading 16 shot attempts and 10 scoring chances but nothing to show for it.
“You’re talking about one of the toughest tests in hockey against some of these players,” Reinhart said. “It’s not one line that’s yo have to defend against in a team like this. It’s going to be a team effort. We’ve always been fortunate enough to have the depth to pull our team along. We’ve always used that to our advantage and this series has been no different. Certainly we would like to be on the on the board a little bit more, but that’s not something that keeps us up at night. We’re trying to win hockey games as a group, and that’s where our focus is.”
Ekblad fine
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was a full participant in the Panthers’ optional practice on Sunday and said there are no issues with his left hand after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot during the second overtime period of Game 2 on Friday.
The blocked shot occurred 4:02 into the second overtime period, with Ekblad’s left hand taking the brunt of Nurse’s wrist shot from the point.
Ekblad skated to the bench in pain and was checked on by a trainer. He managed to play two more shifts in the game before Brad Marchand eventually ended it with his goal 8:05 into the second overtime.
“It’s just a routine blocked shot,” Ekblad said. “Stick your hand out for it and try and get it knocked down and get off the ice as quickly as possible, because when you get that stinger you can’t really grip for a second but all good now.
Travel
The Panthers have their share of long flights during the season, so their six-hour cross-continent trips for the Stanley Cup Final in a sense are somewhat routine.
While some sleep or watch movies, a small group plays poker.
And there appears to be a new ringer in the group.
Veteran forward Brad Marchand, the newcomer to the group after being acquired at the trade deadline, said he “might’ve cleaned up” on the flight heading to Edmonton to start the series.
“The IRS might be coming after me,” Marchand quipped at media day on Monday.
Ekblad, who is the de facto dealer and tries to keep the pace of the game steady throughout the flight, said he’s pretty sure Marchand was the big winner again heading back to South Florida on Saturday.
“Just crazy,” Ekblad said. “Yeah, I think it might’ve been him.”
And while there are heavy stakes involved, with the money involved going up each round, there’s a camaraderie built among teammates while playing.
“I told the story the other day about a guy like Josh Mahura, who was new to the team a few years ago,” Ekblad said of one of the team’s former defensemen. “He didn’t necessarily want to play for the amount of money we were playing for, but he gained five friends for life by being at that table and shooting shit with us for five-, six-hour flights. That’s fun.”
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