As the Florida Panthers embark on a crucial 3-game road trip all eyes will be set on the team’s ability to compete with the league’s best.
The Panthers currently possess a 4-3-1 record, not too shabby. With the way injuries have gone in the 23/24 season, not many can complain. However, the tally of nine points over the 16 they played for has the Cats in 6th place in the Atlantic Division. With October just ending, the Cats have no sense of urgency but realize this road trip could be a defining moment. They are in no rush whatsoever, yet they are eager to remind the league what kind of team they are. And one that can go into any rink and win against any competition.
The Florida Panthers on the Road
The Florida Panthers current road trip can send a message all through the league and inside the team’s facilities. What is this team made of? The Cats struggled on their season-opening trip up north, now they will take on even tougher opponents. However, their recent history with all three of them gives the Panthers and their fans lots of reasons to be confident.
Back at TD Garden: As if They Never Left
Monday night the Panthers took on one of the league’s most dominant and consistent teams for the past two seasons: the Boston Bruins. That is of course when considering the regular season, and most Bostonians would love for this article to leave it at that and gatekeep last postseason’s collapse. Unfortunately, it is too good of a story for us not to mention it.
The Panthers were on the brink of elimination in Game five of the opening round when Sergei Bobrovsky came up with a huge save on a Brad Marchand breakaway as regulation time expired. Matthew Tkachuk would win it in overtime after a costly mistake from Linus Ullmark when handling the puck behind his net. Game six would bring on a rollercoaster of emotions and drama, with the Panthers coming out on top 6-5. Game seven was needed. Back at the Garden, the Bruins held a 3-2 lead with a minute left in the game. Brandon Montour would tie it with an empty net and Carter Verhaeghe would score the dagger, again in sudden-death overtime.
The Cats took the air out of the Bruins sails, they viciously crushed their fans’ hopes, snapping a historic season well short of their end goal. Florida still remembers how great it felt, while Boston has not forgotten nor can they shrug off how much pain they went through.
Jim Montgomery on tonight’s rematch against the Panthers:
“It’s not 1 of 82. No. They ended our season. They went all the way to the Finals. Our summers were miserable until the Finals were over. And that’s because they beat us. So yeah, this means more.”
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 30, 2023
Boston vs Florida: Chapter Two
The Bruins have seen key players departure since, including team captain and future Hall of Fame inductee, Patrice Bergeron. As well as the gritty crease-crusher, Tyler Bertuzzi. Despite those losses, the black-and-yellow Bs are off to another hot start and are yet to lose in regulation. Coming into this Monday night matchup with a chip on their shoulder and lots of bad blood between both teams we were in for a marquee matchup. And they did not disappoint.
The Panthers jumped onto a first-period two-goal lead thanks to a beauty from the Captain, Aleksander Barkov. He followed by assisting Sam Reinhart for the 2-0 lead and Reino’s eighth tally on the season. The Bruins found their groove going into the second period and equalized it in the third, thanks to Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. The latter one received a game misconduct for landing a hit-up high on Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Previously he had similarly checked Carter Verhaeghe.
The Panthers jumped into a five-minute power play on which they failed to capitalize. This was the biggest moment of the night and the Cats’ special teams let the team down. The game was headed to OT and the hosts had all momentum on their side. The atmosphere was electrical as the Athens of America hosted their hockey-style Spartans. Three minutes and a half into the extra time Pavel Zacha scored the game-winning goal on a blocker-side shot against Sergei Bobrovsky. Giving the Bruins some much-needed closure, although not enough, on the topic that takes us all back to last April when the Panthers shocked the world.
Mixed feelings: The Story of the Night
Sam Bennett was a game-time decision and he finally made his long-awaited return to the lineup. It turned out bittersweet as Bennett had to leave the game with a lower-body injury. The centre got his ankle tangled up near the net and fell to the ice showing great signs of discomfort. The last sight Paul Maurice wished to see. When all was said and done, the Cats left TD Garden with a valuable point but a bitter taste.
The Cats in (Hockey)Town
Following Monday’s game at the Walking City of America, the Panthers will travel to Motor City. Another red-hot Atlantic Division opponent will be waiting, this time on Thursday at Little Caesar’s Arena. The Detroit Red Wings seem to be finally over their rebuilding days and looking forward to a big season. Off to a 6-3-1 start, the team coached by Derek Lalonde has shown lots of improvement. Recent addition, Alex DeBrincat, and team captain, Dylan Larkin, are leading the way. The Wings look at their upcoming matchups against the New York Islanders and Panthers as must-wins.
The Florida Panthers road trip is a true test of their aspirations and goals and their matchup with the Red Wings is looked at with bright eyes at Sunrise. The Cats currently hold a 9-1 record in their last ten games against Detroit. A win next Thursday would erase the last loss from the latest ten games. The Panthers seem to have the Wings figured out; however, this team is quite different from previous seasons. Detroit hopes to make a statement by beating one of their hardest divisional opponents in recent memory.
Closing it out in Windy City
The journey upstate will end at Chi-town where the Cats will pay a visit to the new cool kid on the block, Connor Bedard. The Panthers are favourites in that matchup, but the Blackhawks cannot be underestimated. They are capable of scoring in bunches and the Panthers can struggle on that matter. As they did with their recent special teams outings. The Cats last ten meetings with the Blackhawks give the southern team a 7-3 record.
The Florida Panthers take on a tough road trip through Massachusetts, Michigan, and Illinois, facing some of the league’s best competitors. However, there is no reason to fear as the Panthers have proven they belong with the best. They can confidently take them on. All three opponents hold a grudge for the Cardiac Cats and will all be chasing redemption, on different levels. The Cats visits to their rinks present a cathartic opportunity.
The Panthers will instead look to extend their recent dominance over these franchises and set the tone for the season.
Main Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
