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Round 1: Panthers v Islanders

May 26, 2020, 11:39 AM ET [17 Comments]
Matt Ross
Florida Panthers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
News continues to develop as the NHL inches towards a decision regarding the remainder of the season.

While all signs point to things starting back up with the rumored 24-team tournament style playoffs, there are still details that need to be ironed out between the league, the NHLPA, and health officials.

It was announced over the weekend that the Hurricanes and Lightning were against the season resuming with the new format in place. Odd, since both clubs are playoff teams already.

NBC Sports has a nice article detailing why each team feels the way they do about it. You might find some of the reasons interesting.

For me? I'm sill mixed, but I'm coming around to the idea more and more. The allure of having hockey back is just too much! Not to mention, I'm stating to think this format is going to be pretty fun. The season was disrupted to the point it would be tough to be able to continue in a normal capacity, so why not have a somewhat wild way to close it out?

I still think the play will be pretty shaky, but, I guess we just keep moving forward at this point.

It sounds like the league is putting together plans for Phase 2 that allows teams to open up some training facilities as soon as next week to grant access for a certain amount of guys to go in and start working out.

Phase 3 would have training camps beginning in late June, with Phase 4 being the season resuming sometime in July.

Of course, this all depends on if the league, the NHLPA and health experts can agree on terms, etc. It's all summed up pretty nicely here

As for the Cats...

I'm sure you've all seen, but the Panthers would kick off this mad, mad, mad, tournament against the New York Islanders. The winner of what sounds like a best-of-five series, would then go on to play the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Florida and New York are eerily similar in terms of records -

Panthers (69 G): 35-26-8
Islanders (68 G): 35-23-10

If I tallied the games correctly, the Cats and Islanders have clashed three times this season with the "W" going to NY in all three contests.

For a recap of the games, see below:

October 12, 2019: NYI 3, FLA 2 (SO)



November 9, 2019: NYI 2, FLA 1



December 12, 2019: NYI 3, FLA 1



I remember the SO loss being a great game. Fast-paced and pretty even, just couldn't close it out. The other two losses were a result of the Cats not being able to figure out Thomas Greiss - who seems to have their number.

Looking ahead to the (potential) series between the two clubs, I think it's going to be pretty interesting.

The Cats started to get their act together before the pause, but can they find that form again? At the time of the hiatus, the Islanders 6th place in the standings may not have looked very favorable, but I think the Metropolitan division is very tough. While I didn't keep too much of an eye on them outside of the games they played the Panthers, I remember their youth, speed and skill could be pretty deadly.

Derick "I'll Have a Cup of Coffee in Florida" Brassard wound up finding some success on this Isles team when moved to the wing. He even notched himself a nice little five-game scoring streak at one point.

At the 2020 Trade Deadline, NY added depth down the middle when they snagged Jean-Gabriel Pageau from Ottawa in exchange for a 2020 conditional 1st round pick, 2020 2nd round pick, and a 2022 conditional 3rd round pick.

This addition reinforces a strong center position on each line when you factor in the other centermen of Matthew Barzal, Brock Nelson, and Casey Cizikas.

It's going to be interesting to see how Florida and everyone else comes out. Teams should be much healthier, and if the Cats can pick up where they left off, I think this will be a very fun series.

Guess it's time for these guys to ditch the golf clubs and start taping up the sticks again.
____________________

Hockey soon?

Go Panthers!
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