Eighty-one down, one to go.
The Florida Panthers will wrap up their regular season schedule on Tuesday night against their cross-state rivals in Tampa Bay.
For the sixth straight season, game number 82 is not the last one for the Panthers.
This year, Florida is looking to defend their first Stanely Cup championship, and it’s looking like their journey will begin in a similar fashion to last season, against these same Tampa Bay Lightning.
There is still a chance Tampa can catch Toronto for first in the Atlantic Division, which would mean a Panthers-Maple Leafs opening round, but that would require the Bolts winning out, at least one of which needing to be in regulation, and Toronto losing out, each with two games remaining.
Florida, meanwhile, won’t be going into their final game with any concerns other than getting out healthy and starting the playoffs with as strong a roster as possible.
That means we’ll likely see all of Florida’s AHL call-ups on the ice against Tampa Bay as Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice has said he want to give his regular guys a break whenever possible ahead of the postseason.
Unfortunately, between injuries and a crazy, back-to-back filled schedule, the group has been worked extremely hard in a short amount of time.
“It’s a really hard thing we’re asking some of these guys to do,” Maurice said. “They’re playing bigger minutes than they’re used to playing, they’re playing more hockey, you just don’t prorate nine (games) in 15 (days). Nobody plays 18 games in a month. These guys have got to get the best they can from the coaches tomorrow to give them the best chance to win, and we’re completely focused on that game.”
It’ll be interesting to see how Florida’s lines and pairings shake out once Maurice decides who will play and who he’ll hold out.
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