Fort Lauderdale – Nicomiccola news is good.
After scoring twice in a 6-2 beatdown for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of Saturday’s Eastern Conference Finals, Miccola left the game in the third season after a nasty crash on the board.
He could leave under his own strength, and he grabbed his shoulder as he left the ice.
Miccola’s final shift was over, with 11:58 remaining under restrictions.
Thankfully, things seemed worse than they actually were.
Following Sunday’s practice at Baptist Health Iceplex, coach Paul Maurice said Big Fin can play in Game 4 on Monday.
“I think he’s good, but we’re certainly going to give him another day,” he said.
Miccola, the second pairing powerhouse, has built up strength at both ends of the Panthers ice.
After setting a new career high with goals (6) and points (22) during the regular season, the 6-foot-6 defensive man scored five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 15 playoff games.
With an impressive presence, he scored 40 hits and 13 blocking shots in the postseason.
“He was great today,” teammate Anton Landell said of Miccola after Game 3. “He’s been great throughout the season. He’s a different kind of player. He’s big. He’s not known to score goals, but he always steps up.”
The news was positive for AJ Greer too.
Like Miccola, the rough front left the third season of Game 3 with obvious injuries.
In addition to scoring this postseason goal, Greer has punished the opposition every time he gets, ranking second in Florida with 29.67 hits per 60 minutes.
“I think you know by the time you skate in the morning,” Maurice said of his position.
During Monday morning skates, all eyes are also found in Sam Reinhart.
After suffering a lower body injury with a low hit from Sebastian AHO in Game 2, the high-scoring forward, sitting in Game 3, could return to the lineup early in Game 4.
“We have the answer tomorrow,” Maurice said of Reinhardt. He led the Panthers with 39 goals during the regular season, already scoring 11 points in the playoffs. “I don’t think that’s a game timer for us. We’ll just decide if he’s playing or not on morning skating.”
Closed the book in the Reinhart case, Matthew Tkachuk became physical with AHO in the third season of Game 3, pushing and pushing in before taking him to the ice.
Tkachuk was cheated on the argument, but that was the price he was willing to pay.
“I’m just sticking to my teammates,” said Tkachuk, who is often praised by Maurice for knowing when to press the correct button in the game. “We’re a family there. It can happen to anyone. There are probably 20 guys racing to become guys who stick to such teammates.”
Stay tuned for more updates from Mikkola, Greer and Reinhart tomorrow as the Panthers lead 3-0 in the series and are about to close the hurricane in Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.
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