Fort Lauderdale – Alexander Barkov said it to the best.
“The best time to become a hockey player is beginning now,” laughed the Florida Panthers captain.
Following an update from Paul Maurice on Thursday, everyone shares the same smile.
After having to endure a total of 130 men’s games lost to injuries throughout the long regular season grind, the defending Stanley Cup champion could eventually be trapped in the full lineup.
Aaron Ekblad (Suspension) will not take action until Game 3 of the team’s first round series with Tampa Bay Lightning, but Maurice said everyone else should be able to play.
“No one knows they’re not ready for Game 1,” Maurice said Thursday at Baptist Health Iceplex. “Everyone can do it in Game 1.”
Both Sam Bennett (missed in four games) and Dmitry Kulikov (missed 12 games) are back for the final two contests of the regular season.
In these two games against the New York Rangers and Lightning, Bennett recorded assists and four shots in goal, while Kulikov scored four hits and averaged 18:59 ice time.
“The timing of the game is different from when you’re practicing there. I have to get it back,” Kulikov said after returning home. “I felt pretty good today. I felt good after reading the game. There are no complaints.”
In addition to the excitement of the playoffs, all eyes lie in the imminent return of Matthew Tokachuk.
The star forward, who was placed at LTIR in the beginning of March, missed the final 25 games of the season.
However, in Game 1 at Amalie Arena, no until Tuesday. 19 was able to return to Nick of Time.
“He went today after it was pretty good,” said Maurice, who rehabilitates at Tkachuk. “He won’t skate tomorrow. He will skate on the day he goes out on the decision day that will be after skating on Monday.”
Built for the playoffs, it can influence the game in one or more ways, and Tkachuk tallied 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games this season, and was injured in a 4 Nations showdown.
A key factor in the team’s back-to-back trip to the Stanley Cup final, including last season’s championship, was Tkachuk’s 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists), +12 plus/negative ratings, goals won in six games, and three overtime goals since joining the Panther in 44 playoff games.
As Barkov said, this is the perfect time to become a hockey player.
But it’s also the perfect time to become a Panthers fan, as it has the potential to be a completely healthy team.
Stay tuned for the upcoming days at floridapanthers.com
