Panthers Prepare for Game 1 Against Lightning, Awaiting Tkachuk's Status
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Monday marks day three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the action is heating up.
The postseason is off to an exciting start, and with Game 2s already underway, we’re beginning to dive into the intensity of the seven-game series. By the end of the day, only the Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning matchup will still be waiting to begin.
When the puck finally drops for Game 1 between the Panthers and Lightning, it’ll mark one of the most anticipated matchups of the opening round. While the delayed start might be frustrating for a fanbase eager to defend its Stanley Cup title, the Panthers are using the extra time wisely.
Florida faced some challenges toward the end of the regular season with key players missing time, and Head Coach Paul Maurice frequently rested his stars to ensure they’d be as healthy as possible heading into the playoffs. Sam Bennett, Sasha Barkov, Gus Forsling, Sam Reinhart, and others all received rest days to aid recovery.
Maurice has since confirmed that everyone on the active roster should be ready for Game 1 against the Lightning, except for Matthew Tkachuk, who remains on LTIR. Tkachuk skated with the team on Saturday for the first time since suffering a groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-off in February. Barring any setbacks from Saturday’s session, he is expected to join the team on the ice Monday.
With the extra days before the series kicks off, there’s still hope that Tkachuk will be good to go for Game 1 on Tuesday. Maurice explained that the team is taking full advantage of the additional time to find the right balance of rest and sharpness.
“We’ll get an extra day skate, and it lets us accomplish both things: we’ll get the right amount of rest and also be on the ice enough to stay sharp,” Maurice said. “The extra days allow us to do both.”
The Panthers will head to Tampa after their Monday practice in Fort Lauderdale. Before they leave, fans can expect an update on Tkachuk, as Maurice previously mentioned that Monday would be a key day for deciding his status for Game 1.