ECR1: Florida Panthers (A3) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) - PANTHERS WIN 4-1

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

I agree with this in a sense, but I also don't mind Florida staying in so they can take out the Leafs or the Oilers (if needed).

I don't trust any other team (except maybe the Avalanche) to dismantle either of those teams.

The Oilers made the playoffs on the strength of their 3-on-3 record. I pretty much trust any other team in the playoffs to dismantle them 5-on-5.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Saqe

They are when Ekblad comes back (one more game out with suspension). That will allow Jones to be slotted on the second pairing.

Yeah it's pretty crazy. I was saying to my buddy last night that this is the first time since the first game of the regular season that their whole lineup has been together... then I remembered they're still missing their #1D lol.

The Bennett watch this offseason will be interesting, if it even happens. I can't see FLA letting him get away, but he's about to get PAID if he decides to leave.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah it's pretty crazy. I was saying to my buddy last night that this is the first time since the first game of the regular season that their whole lineup has been together... then I remembered they're still missing their #1D lol.

The Bennett watch this offseason will be interesting, if it even happens. I can't see FLA letting him get away, but he's about to get PAID if he decides to leave.

Eh, number 2 at best. Forsling is easily their #1 now. Ekblad plays on the top pair, but his game is diminishing over the last couple of years. Hence the PED.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah it's pretty crazy. I was saying to my buddy last night that this is the first time since the first game of the regular season that their whole lineup has been together... then I remembered they're still missing their #1D lol.

The Bennett watch this offseason will be interesting, if it even happens. I can't see FLA letting him get away, but he's about to get PAID if he decides to leave.

Yeah like CaliPanther said, Ekblad is their #2 if not three now that they got Jones. For me the more interesting thing is what will they do with Ekblad, Bennett would be a big loss but I feel like the Panthers could cope with that due to their depth. Ekblad is a RD and although he's a ticking time bomb with the laundry list of injuries he's had, he's still really good and always had high hockey smarts. He's going to be harder to replace imo.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Yeah like CaliPanther said, Ekblad is their #2 if not three now that they got Jones. For me the more interesting thing is what will they do with Ekblad, Bennett would be a big loss but I feel like the Panthers could cope with that due to their depth. Ekblad is a RD and although he's a ticking time bomb with the laundry list of injuries he's had, he's still really good and always had high hockey smarts. He's going to be harder to replace imo.

I mean I think that's literally why they went out and got Jones...to replace Ekblad in his role. I don't think they want to take the risk of Ekblad's body holding up long term.

It's either that or free agency. They have $19 million in cap next year without a lot of key free agents coming off the books (Bennett and Ekblad would be the biggest). They already have a top 4 in Forsling, Jones, Mikkola, and Kulikov, with Balinskis as a 5th. They could easily land a big name to plunk in as a #3 and be done. Gavrikov, Lindgren, and Provorov all sound like potential options to me, but I suspect there might be a bit of a bidding war for all three of those guys (assuming none of them are re-signed by their current club).

I could just as easily see them re-signing Ekblad to a 4-5 year deal at around the same AAV.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I mean I think that's literally why they went out and got Jones...to replace Ekblad in his role. I don't think they want to take the risk of Ekblad's body holding up long term.

It's either that or free agency. They have $19 million in cap next year without a lot of key free agents coming off the books (Bennett and Ekblad would be the biggest). They already have a top 4 in Forsling, Jones, Mikkola, and Kulikov, with Balinskis as a 5th. They could easily land a big name to plunk in as a #3 and be done. Gavrikov, Lindgren, and Provorov all sound like potential options to me, but I suspect there might be a bit of a bidding war for all three of those guys (assuming none of them are re-signed by their current club).

I could just as easily see them re-signing Ekblad to a 4-5 year deal at around the same AAV.

Let me introduce you to Rasmus Andersson. All he costs is your 2027 1st and 2028 2nd and Marki Samoskevich.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Let me introduce you to Rasmus Andersson. All he costs is your 2027 1st and 2028 2nd and Marki Samoskevich.

LOL...you never know, could happen. These teams like trading with each other.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I mean I think that's literally why they went out and got Jones...to replace Ekblad in his role. I don't think they want to take the risk of Ekblad's body holding up long term.

It's either that or free agency. They have $19 million in cap next year without a lot of key free agents coming off the books (Bennett and Ekblad would be the biggest). They already have a top 4 in Forsling, Jones, Mikkola, and Kulikov, with Balinskis as a 5th. They could easily land a big name to plunk in as a #3 and be done. Gavrikov, Lindgren, and Provorov all sound like potential options to me, but I suspect there might be a bit of a bidding war for all three of those guys (assuming none of them are re-signed by their current club).

I could just as easily see them re-signing Ekblad to a 4-5 year deal at around the same AAV.

Yeah Jones gives them an option on Ekblad, to either take a team friendly deal or walk as a UFA. But it does create a hole for them again if that happens and they don't have a lot of assets to give up.

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Let me introduce you to Rasmus Andersson. All he costs is your 2027 1st and 2028 2nd and Marki Samoskevich.

Andersson would be definitely something that Florida could look at, if Ekblad walks. I don't think you'll be able to get Samoskevich though, he's showing really good progress after starting the year on the fourth line and now playing on the second with Bennett and Tkachuk. Zito doesn't care a damn about picks though.

[hwy19man]

Here we go, Schmidt scores 4:15 into the game, 1-0 Panthers.

[Sylvanfan]

Whelp....this Florida pick is 31 overall at best. They've won this series and I think they'll roll Toronto just as easily. Than whomever wins the metro won't stand up to them either.

Balls.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Jesus Christ.

That Hagel hit is ####ing predatory. Glad the refs gave him 5 minutes for that hit on Barkov. Barky is in the dark room in concussion protocol. That could be a serious issue if he misses time. Hope he's okay.

[Rejean31]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Jesus Christ.

That Hagel hit is ####ing predatory. Glad the refs gave him 5 minutes for that hit on Barkov. Barky is in the dark room in concussion protocol. That could be a serious issue if he misses time. Hope he's okay.

Yep, that has to be at minimum a 3 to 4 game suspension!!

[chummer]

Didn't see Tampa going down 2-0

[midniteowl]

Yes!!! Cats take game 2! Suck it you dirty Bolts.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Jesus Christ.

That Hagel hit is ####ing predatory. Glad the refs gave him 5 minutes for that hit on Barkov. Barky is in the dark room in concussion protocol. That could be a serious issue if he misses time. Hope he's okay.

Hagel is a coward. He could have easily blocked the game opening goal but nope to chickenshirt

[Cali Panthers Fan]

That was a master class in how to win a playoff game on the road.

Be aggressive early and get the opening goal.

Commit to team defense and don't take risks unless there's a golden opportunity.

Play physically, but within the rules (refs still were looking to give Tampa power plays most of the night).

Frustrate the home team by stymying their attack. They end up feeling a lot more pressure to score on home ice, and especially to avoid going down 2-0.

Kill penalties brilliantly with great pressure and sweeping coverage.

When there is a slight chance, have your goalie locked in and allow no rebounds for second opportunities.

End result? Take a 2-0 chokehold on the series heading back home.

Brilliant.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by blankall

WTF.

Florida's pick is our pick. All year posters have been cheering for the Flames to lose, so that the Flames get a better pick. Now people won't even cheer against the Panthers for that same reason?

Florida going deeper is not ideal, but it was in.

[Toonage]

Nate Schmidt cannot be stopped.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Nate Schmidt cannot be stopped.

5 goals in 80 regular season games.

3 goals in 2 playoff games.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by blankall

WTF.

Florida's pick is our pick. All year posters have been cheering for the Flames to lose, so that the Flames get a better pick. Now people won't even cheer against the Panthers for that same reason?

Well, I'm not in the group that cheered for the Flames to lose. I'm here to cheer for Lightning to lose. After Panthers beat the Lightning, Cats lose in the next round. Besides, they win the round the pick gets move down one or two?