Takeaways: Panthers Win in New Jersey But Lose One of Their Stars

The Florida Panthers kicked off their mini two-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Panthers’ Win Comes at a Cost

After suffering a loss of the same score to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, the Panthers responded with a complete effort to secure those much-needed two points.

The Devils played an uncharacteristically sloppy game, turning pucks over constantly and struggling to complete passes and move up the ice.

In total, the Devils had 12 giveaways to the Panthers’ four.

It was a night where everything was seemingly going wrong for the Devils and everything was going right for the Panthers.

Well, almost everything.

Barkov Leaves Game with Lower Body Injury

With just over two seconds remaining in the first period, Aleksander Barkov was hurt while taking a draw against Nico Hischier. 

The two appeared to get tangled up before Hischier fell into Barkov’s knee.

The Panthers’ captain left the ice on his own but was in obvious discomfort. He skated gingerly back to the bench but was clearly favoring his right knee.

He would not return to the ice and post-game head coach Paul Maurice had no update for the media. Maurice stated that his star forward would be further evaluated the next day.

Before the injury, the Finnish star played a part in setting up the first goal of the game. He collected the primary assist on Sam Reinhart’s powerplay goal which gave the Cats that all-important lead.

The Panthers may need to brace themselves for life without their star. Florida has been plagued by injury and illness this season, already having lost their captain for seven games due to pneumonia. 

The Panthers are 2-5 in games without Barkov and have been outscored 28-25 during those times.

Bobrovsky Finding his Rhythm

Sergei Bobrovsky made his sixth straight start in goal last night. After looking like he lost his crease to Spencer Knight, Bobrovsky is re-establishing himself as the team’s starter during his recent run. 

Last night, Bob turned aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced. And since coming in for relief against  the Winnipeg Jets on December 6, the Russian netminder sports a 2.27 GAA and .923 SV%

That is a sharp contrast from the 3.88 GAA and .878 SV% he compiled through his first 12 starts.

“I feel good,” Bobrovsky said after the win.

“I’ve got some rhythm, played some hockey. That’s good for me. I like to play. I like to be there with the teammates and compete for the points because we need points right now.”

And helping the team is exactly what he’s doing. 

With the win, the Panthers now sport a team record of 15-13-4. At first glance, that record doesn’t look impressive but considering all the factors affecting this team, they are pacing well.

The Panthers continue to battle injuries and illness, yet are 5-5 in their last ten games. They continue to keep their head above water and it’s in large part due to the play of Bobrovsky.

With Spencer Knight out, it was imperative that Bob be able to find his game and be the rock for this group as they try to stay in the playoff race.

Around Full Press Hockey

---

NHL: Paul Maurice: “It’s A Special Place And You Could Feel It”

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche

NHL: NHL Power Rankings: Devils Holding Onto The Top Spot

NFL: Remembering John Hadl: “A Great Player, A Great Athlete

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 38: NHL Season Preview: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau

---

Luostarinen Becoming “That Guy”

While talking with the Florida Panthers’ Jameson Olive about Eetu Luostarinen, Paul Maurice told him “he’s been kind of the revelation of our team.”

This praise was of course in reference to the way Luostarinen has, perhaps surprisingly,  become one of Maurice’s go-to guys. 

When the team needed players to step up and expand their roles, the fourth-year pro probably wasn’t at the top of most people’s lists.

After all, Luostarinen is still considered a very “green” pro having only played in parts of four seasons.

The native of Siilinjarvi, Finland has played in 162 NHL games which includes just one full season.

But being short on experience hasn’t stopped the towering Finn from asserting himself as a driving force for his club.

The 24-year-old has seven goals and 16 points in 32 games and is well on pace to smash his previous carer high of 26 points. 

But where he is making his biggest presence felt isn’t necessarily in terms of goals and assists, but rather being the guy that brings stability.

The Panthers, as said before, have dealt with players being in and out of the lineup all year. Maurice has put his lines through the blender, nightly.

But with all that change in the lineup, there has been one constant. Whichever line Luostarinen is on, that line delivers as a two-way force.

Luostarinen is third on the team and leads all forwards with a +/- of +11. And last night he was a team-high 61.54 CF% at 5-on-5. 

“He is so versatile,” Maurice said of Luostarinen after the game.

“He can play left [wing]. Throw him in the middle and he hasn’t missed a shift. Kills penalties. We have him on the powerplay.”

It’s just what he does. He has become a player that Maurice can rely on and trust to use in any and all situations. He may play in the shadows of the Barkovs or Matthew Tkachuks of the team, but he is no less valuable to the team’s success.

Up Next

The Panthers will close out their mini two-game road trip with a date in Boston vs the Bruins.

It will be their third meeting of the season, having already split their first two matchups.

The Panthers are hoping to have some of their wounded return, but that will remain a game-time decision.

The Panthers are 16 points back of the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins but will try and chip away at that lead Monday night.

Puck drop is at 7:00 pm ET.