3 Takeaways: Panthers Win vs Senators – 10/29/22

Welcome to Full Press Hockey’s Takeaway series on the Florida Panthers. After each Panthers game of the 2022-23 season, our Florida Panthers beat writer, Alex Slemp, will recap the game and give you his three biggest takeaways from the matchup. Today we will have a look at the Florida Panthers’ win vs the Ottawa Senators. You can follow more of his work on the Florida Panthers here, and also tune into his podcast where he talks the latest on all things Florida Panthers.

Back on home ice and back in the win column! 

The Florida Panthers took care of business tonight against the visiting Ottawa Senators by a score of 5-3.

Panthers Get Big Home Win vs the Senators

The Panthers came out of the gate flying, dominating every aspect of the game. By the end of the first period, the Cats had already registered an astronomical 26 shots on net. They scored two, including another on the power play, and only surrendered four shots. 

It was about as perfect a period as you could have. 

But the Senators refused to roll over and let the Panthers have their way. 

Ottawa got goals from Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk just over three minutes into the second. And had it not been for a disallowed goal to put the Senators up 3-2, they may have even chased Spencer Knight from the crease, who looked shaky to start that period.

But the young netminder settled into his own and made some spectacular saves to close out the game and ensure his team got the two points tonight.

It was a highly entertaining game that had a bit of everything in it, including a Radko Gudas fight!

Let’s have a look at the three main takeaways from tonight’s 5-3 win.

Top Line Rolling

The move by Paul Maurice to put Matthew Tkachuk onto the top line paid huge dividends tonight. 

Carter Verhaeghe had his second multi-goal game of the season, Tkachuk registered a trio of points, and Aleksander Barkov finally ended his scoring drought. 

In total, the line had a combined nine points. 

“I feel like they could have had five each” Maurice said after the game, adding “lots of confidence in the group right now.”

It was the first game of the year where the Panthers’ top line really clicked and put it all together, but most importantly, it was the game that got their captain producing offensively.

After the game, Maurice talked about the importance of getting his star going, stating, “He’s got to get paid for it, and I’m not talking about financially. He does everything so right defensively. He battles hard, he’s under pucks, he does everything right” 

Maurice continued, “But he’ll still feel the pressure that elite players feel because they get paid to produce and they want that, it’s for their teammates. So really good for him.”

Considering how well the Panthers are doing to start the year without having got that offensive production out of that line, with this line now rolling, the rest of the NHL will need to be on the lookout.

Knight Rebounds After Shaky Start to the Second

After the Panthers put together that incredible first period, it looked like they were going to coast to victory the rest of the way.

But the Senators were determined to fight back. And two quick goals at the start of the second period had them right back in it.

The second goal, a top-corner snipe from the left side by Brady Tkachuk, is one that Knight would certainly like to have back. 

Knight seemed to lose track of his post and did not have the angle to close off that wide-open corner.

It was uncharacteristic of him but could be attributed to the fact that he only faced four shots going into that period.

It is hard to find your rhythm when the majority of the play is down at the other end. 

Knight would then let in another goal shortly after but it was disallowed after the refs determined there was interference.

It looked like Maurice was getting ready to pull the young netminder but elected to keep him in the crease after the goal was overturned. 

Giving the Coach Confidence

The decision proved to be the right one, as Knight would get tested again shortly after but come up with an incredible save to keep the game tied.

The young backup settled in and continued to make big stops to help his team close out the game and get the two points. 

When asked after the game about Knight and his ability to settle in and bounce back, Maurice said, “I feel I know a little bit more about him. If he has a rougher start in a game I’ll have way more rope with that because I’ve seen him come back in those games.”

Maurice continued by saying, “But after he made the first big save in the second (period), by the time the second one happened I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to get beat again.”

Seeing Knight bounce back the way he did was impressive. It usually takes years for goalies to mature in their game to a point where they can get shelled but stay grounded, regather their focus, and completely shut it down the rest of the way.

It was a great character win for him and a performance that Knight will be able to build off of going forward.

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Statement Win

A win against a team like the Senators, who had a record just above .500 coming into this one, is not your typical “statement win”.

But the reason we are calling it that is because it was a strong response to coming off their two latest losses.

And the Panthers’ game didn’t change from their one against the Flyers. 

Just like the game in Philly, the Panthers put up over 50 shots on goal, which is the type of volume Maurice is looking for.

After the game, Maurice talked about how for the Panthers, “the shot isn’t the end of the play for us, it’s the start of the play.”

Adding that the chaos the Panthers create off that shot volume is what gives them those opportunities. Those second and third shots. It’s the style of play you need at the playoffs.

Coach has had an emphasis on playing playoff-style hockey during the regular season because that’s going to be the best way to set this team up for success.

And he’s absolutely right.

So seeing the Panthers stick to the script, not deviate away from this system despite two losses, and go out and collect two points in a convincing manner, is absolutely a statement win for this club.

Up Next

The Panthers now get ready for a four-game road trip out west.

It’s the annual California swing, which includes a stop first in Arizona to take on the Coyotes.

On paper, this is another road trip that looks favorable to the Florida Panthers but if there was anything learned from the last road trip, it’s that you can’t take any team lightly.

It will be crucial for the Panthers to have a successful road trip here and bank as many points as they can because upon their return, they have a very difficult five-game home stand against some of the best clubs in the NHL.

The Panthers take the ice next on Tuesday, November 1 against the Arizona Coyotes. 

Puck drop is at 10:00 pm EST.