The Panthers look to extend their winning streak to four tonight as they face off against a solid Calgary team that is currently third in the Pacific Division (just behind ANA and VGK).
The 17-7-6 Flames toppled the Blackhawks in their game on Sunday by a score of 5-1. While the Hawks are a weakened version of their former-selves, you can’t help but admire the style Calgary plays. From what I’ve seen this year, it’s a good balance of skill and hard workers.
The Cats will have their hands (paws) full with the first two lines:
Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Coleman - Backlund - Pitlick
Tkachuk is a serious talent. I’d take that guy on the Panthers in a heartbeat. He literally does it all. He has skill and can finesse defenses, goes to the front of the net/corners to battle, fights, plays on an edge, etc. What a weapon.
Add to that, the Flames have a number of big bodies on their roster. Out of 15 forwards, there are only four that are under 6”. And out of the eight defensemen they carry, one is under 6”.
Obviously size doesn’t determine skill/wins, but those are big frames (with reach) to have to maneuver around. In fact, their bottom defensive pairing is made up of former-Panther Eric Gudrandson and Nikita Zadorov. Gudy is 6’ 5”, 222 lbs and Zadorov is 6’ 6”, 235 lbs. Granted, they play a more lumbering game, but I saw them use their size to their advantage against Chicago quite a bit by throwing their weight around with hits and getting into lanes to block a number of shots and break up plays.
Then there’s Jacob Markstrom. Remember him? The 6’ 6”, 206 lbs goaltender has been playing great for the Flames with a 12-6-5 record. Owning a 1.99 GAA and .930 SV%, it’s safe to say he’s found his game since departing Florida.
Fact of the Day: In March 2014, Markstrom was traded (along with Shawn Matthias) to Vancouver in exchange for Luongo and Steven Anthony.
The combination of Calgary’s strong defensive game and stellar play of Markstrom is going to make things tough for the Cats tonight. Like Brunette said, their strengths play against Florida’s strengths. Who is going to budge?
Should make for a really good game that will be a bit of an uphill climb for the Cats…
Florida will take on Calgary without former-Flame Sam Bennett, who has been suspended for three games after his high hit on Montreal’s Cedric Paquette.
The Cats will certainly feel his absence this week as they battle three good teams: Calgary, Dallas, Carolina.
Brunette did not like the ruling, per the
Miami Herald
“
I’m disappointed in the sentence of three games,” Brunette said, “but as we all know, they make the rules; we follow them. We’re gonna miss him for these three games.”
I’m kind of torn on this one. I can see it both ways, but I think what kind of hurt him was that it was similar - in terms of the path he took - that landed him in hot water last season when he skated across the ice to crush Blake Coleman.
Adding to Bennett being out, it sounds like Reinhart and Marchment have found themselves on the COVID protocol list and Verhaeghe is a game-time decision.
And so the juggling act begins again…
Projected Lineup per Jameson Olive (subject to change)
Verhaeghe - Barkov - Mamin
Huberdeau - Lundell - Duclair
Vatrano - Thornton - Tippett
Lomberg - Loustarinen- Hornqvist
Weegar - Ekblad
Forsling - Gudas
Carlsson - Montour
Bob
Johansson
So it looks like Lundell will slot in for Bennett and my man Mamin will get some first line reps. Bob gets the start, which is good, but I’m def looking forward to “Double J” getting the nod at some point to see what he has - but he has to come to the rink like the real “Double J” Jeff Jarrett, or else no start.
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Sit back, relax, and strap it down. It’s going to be a good one tonight, folks…Go Panthers!
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