playoffs: 2020-21 | CDFR | (C2) Florida Panthers vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning

[Phil]

 

(C2) Florida Panthers vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning

 

 

 

 

REGULAR SEASON RECORDS:

 

Panthers: 37-14-5, 79 points

Lightning: 36-17-3, 75 points

 

 

SEASON SERIES:

 

FLA 5-2-1; TBL 3-5-0

 

 

 

 

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[td]GAME BREAKERS:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Forward Jonathan Huberdeau, the Panthers' most dynamic skater, led them with 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists), including 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 13 games since April 13. He scored seven points (three goals, four assists) against the Lightning this season. He's third in Panthers history and first among active Florida players with 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 38 games against Tampa Bay.[/td]

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[td]Lightning: Brayden Point led Tampa Bay with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists). The forward scored six points (four goals, two assists) against the Panthers and has scored 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 21 games against them. Kucherov likely would be the Lightning game breaker, but because he hasn't played this season, it's hard to determine the impact he could have on the series.[/td]

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[td]GOALTENDING:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: They will carry three goalies, and the leash could be short for expected starter Sergei Bobrovsky, who was 19-8-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 31 games (30 starts). Bobrovsky was passed on the depth chart at times by Chris Driedger, who was 14-6-3 with three shutouts, a 2.07 GAA and .927 save percentage in 23 starts. Rookie Spencer Knight was 4-0-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .919 save percentage in four games (three starts).[/td]

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[td]Lightning: There are no questions about the starting goalie. It's Andrei Vasilevskiy, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2018-19, voted as the best goalie in the NHL. He could win it again this season. Vasilevskiy had 31 wins and five shutouts in 42 starts and was never pulled from a game this season. He had a 2.21 GAA and .925 save percentage. His backup is Curtis McElhinney, who was 4-6-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .875 save percentage in 12 starts.[/td]

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[td]X FACTORS:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Sam Bennett has been one of the Panthers' best players since they acquired the forward in a trade with the Calgary Flames on April 12. Bennett set a Panthers record for most points in his first 10 games, scoring 15 (six goals, nine assists) with a plus-12 rating, breaking the mark held by Pavel Bure, who scored 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in his first 10 games with Florida in 1998-99. Bennett ened the regular season with a six-game point streak (three goals, seven assists). [/td]

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[td]Lightning: Mikhail Sergachev has been an under-the-radar, puck-moving defenseman playing major minutes, and his role grows bigger if Hedman and McDonagh aren't at full strength. Sergachev scored 30 points (four goals, 26 assists) playing all 56 games this season. He averaged 21:58 of ice time per game, second on the Lightning behind Hedman's 25:03.[/td]

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[td]WILL WIN IF:[/td]

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[td]Panthers: Their goaltending holds up with zero to minimal changes. They will need to get on top of the Lightning early with their forecheck to generate chances off the rush. They will also need to limit Kucherov and Stamkos, provided they are in the lineup, because they will be coming in with fresh legs.[/td]

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[td]Lightning: Their defense holds up, and Kucherov and Stamkos can be impact players right away. They need to limit Florida's high-powered attack too; the Panthers were the only team to average more than three goals per game against the Lightning this season (3.88).[/td]

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More: https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-tampa-bay-lightning-series-preview/c-324642696?tid=287339198

 

 

[Morphinity 2.0]

This will be one of the most interesting series of the first round. I think the Lightning will ultimately win because they're getting a serious influx when Kucherov returns. The Panthers are good and they're well-coached, but Tampa is just too good.

[Stephen]

I see Tampa in 7. Florida will keep it close, it will be just too much to handle because Kucherov and Stamkos will be coming back for the Bolts. This will be another war of a series.

[Blue Heaven]

Im all into this series.

Go Panthers!

[Karan]

Fuck FLA robbed of the opening goal. I don't see any goaltender interference. Shitty call by the ref.

[Blue Heaven]

What a change of events in the last minute

[Stephen]

Fuck FLA robbed of the opening goal. I don't see any goaltender interference. Shitty call by the ref.

 

Playoffs and terrible officiating: a match made in Heaven.

[Blue Heaven]

wow McD with a bad boarding penalty. So unlike him

[Blue Heaven]

Panthers tie it up on the PP. Barkov (aka Future Ranger?)

[Karan]

Damn FLA's flying here. This is going to be one of the most entertaining first round series I think.

[Stephen]

Panthers tie it up on the PP. Barkov (aka Future Ranger?)

 

Love to get Barkov, depends on the price.

[siddious]

Is the arena in Florida not allowed to be at 100% (I thought it was) or do they just really not have any fans?

 

 

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[Blue Heaven]

Great pass by McD

 

 

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[Karan]

Woah what a game. TBL take the lead with about a minute left in regulation.

[Valriera]

Anyone watch this game and think multiple times, “wow, no way any current Rangers player could skate more than 8mins here?”

[Morphinity 2.0]

Anyone watch this game and think multiple times, “wow, no way any current Rangers player could skate more than 8mins here?”

 

Yeah the pace of this game is just so foreign to anything I've seen from the Rangers this year.

[Valriera]

Part of it is playoff intensity but I am not convinced anyone has it in them except the obvious Brendan smith candidate which is good for him but not a great look

[paddynyc]

What a great intense game this was last night and it great to watch.

[Blue Heaven]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sam-bennett-suspended-1-game-for-boarding-lightnings-blake-coleman-190721490.html

Panthers' Sam Bennett suspended 1 game for boarding Lightning's Blake Coleman

[Blue Heaven]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sam-bennett-suspended-1-game-for-boarding-lightnings-blake-coleman-190721490.html

Panthers' Sam Bennett suspended 1 game for boarding Lightning's Blake Coleman

[-ERIK-]

this series is great after one game

intensity , I was really into it as soon as I started watching.

[Blue Heaven]

Game 2 underway

[Morphinity 2.0]

This series is so great

[Keirik]

This series is so great

 

Yeah I desperately want to see this series go 7

[Phil]

This series is so great

 

Watching it makes me realize how fucking far the Rangers have to go to hang like this.