Panthers defensemen trying to up scoring production after slow start to season
Uvis Balinskis’ shot from the left point fluttered through the air, past the screen set by teammate A.J. Greer and past goaltender David Rittich for the Florida Panthers defenseman’s first goal of the season.
The first-period tally gave the Panthers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in an eventual 4-1 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday at Amerant Bank Arena.
“At least I’m not going to be paying for dinner,” Balinskis said postgame with a laugh. “Not a lot of D men have scored yet.”
In fact, Balinskis’ goal was just the second by a Panthers defenseman at five-on-five through 28 games this season. The other was by Gustav Forsling in Florida’s 8-3 win at the Nashville Predators on Nov. 24. Overall, defensemen have accounted for just eight Panthers goals this season — Seth Jones has a team-leading five (four on the power play, one on Sunday with the game at 4-on-4) and Aaron Ekblad has the other (a power-play goal).
For comparison, there are four individual defensemen across the league — Washington’s Jakob Chychrun (11), Columbus’ Zach Werenski (nine), Colorado’s Cale Makar (nine) and the Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer (eight) — with as many or more goals than all of Florida’s defensemen entering play Tuesday.
But while Florida’s blueliners are finding the net as much as usual — Panthers defensemen had 37 goals last season; they’re on pace for 24 this season — they are finding ways to contribute offensively by setting up their forwards.
All four goals in Florida’s win Sunday were either scored by defensemen or the primary assist came from a defenseman. Overall, Panthers blueliners have 46 assists, including 23 primary helpers, this season.
“It helps a lot if the D men can jump in or get the pucks to the net and our forwards can battle there,” Balinskis said. “It helps a lot, for sure.”
Added Jones: “We’re trying to contribute in different ways.”
And the lack of scoring is not for a lack of effort. Florida defensemen have taken 208 shots on goal, with just eight — 3.8% — finding the back of the net. According to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick, those 208 shots on goal (and 531 total shot attempts) account for an expected goals-for rate of 12.59, meaning Florida defensemen have scored four-and-a-half goals fewer than projected based on the looks they have gotten so far this year.
But Panthers coach Paul Maurice hopes more games like Sunday — where a favorable bounce, a helpful screen, a good look — can lead to more chances converted into goals down the stretch.
“A little bit of confidence will put more pucks in the net,” Maurice said. “The forwards will also feel that the pucks are going to the net, so they’ll get more and hopefully we can build on it.”
Key Utah player out
The Panthers (14-12-2) begin a four-game road trip at the Utah Mammonth (14-14-3) on Wednesday night, with puck drop from Delta Center in Salt Lake City set for 9 p.m.
And Utah will be without one of its top players for the game as the team announced Monday that forward Logan Cooley is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Cooley leads the Mammoth with 14 goals and is tied for third on the team with 23 points.
Honors for Carter Verhaeghe
Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe on Monday was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week.
Verhaeghe scored four goals in three games played last week, all coming in his return from a one-game absence following the birth of his son Rory.
The speedy 30-year-old winger has eight goals and 21 points total on the season, with 11 of those points (six goals, five assists) coming in his past six games played.
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