Game 2 Analysis: What Happened To The Florida Panthers?

If you’re trying to figure out what happened to the Stanley Cup juggernaut formerly known as the Florida Panthers, well, so am I.

Was it the 10-day layoff? Is the Florida team that barely made the playoffs reverting to regular-season form? Is it because goal-scoring machine Matthew Tkachuk has become the king of penalties?

What about Bob? Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t stopped a puck since May. He allowed more goals in 82 minutes and 59 seconds against Vegas in the Stanley Cup finals than he did in the four-game semifinal series against Carolina.

The Golden Knights scored four more against the former Flyer on Monday in their 7-2 rout of Florida. He allowed four more in Game 1.

He only allowed six against the Hurricanes.

Maybe Vegas is too good, too strong, with too much depth. Even its fourth line looks dominant. Vegas is tight-checking and physical. Everybody is scoring. Vegas leads the series, 2-0.

Florida defenseman Radko Gudas tried to rattle some bones with a first-period hit on Ivan Barbashev, who saw the check coming and instead drove his shoulder into Gudas’ face. Gudas fell, his helmet hitting the ice. The former Flyer left the ice, went into the locker room and didn’t return.

Storylines Crashed

There were two storylines coming into the finals — both of which have fallen apart. Bobrovsky was a contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy. But he has been outplayed by Vegas goalie Adin Hill, who has been Bob-like brilliant.

The other storyline was Tkachuk and his clutch play and dominance of the Hurricanes. Tkachuk delivered a huge hit on Vegas’ Jack Eichel but his scoresheet contribution mostly has been on the penalty sheet. He scored a goal to cut the Vegas lead to 6-2 but racked up 22 penalty minutes.

Instead, Vegas’ Jonathan Marchessault continued his Conn Smythe-type play. The former Panther scored two goals in Game 2 and has scored 10 goals in the last nine playoff games.

The old axiom about playoff series is they don’t begin until the home team loses. Game 3 is Thursday at Florida. Teams that trail 0-2 in the finals are 3-31 in the expansion era.

Nothing about the way the Panthers are playing suggests a dramatic change in this series. Home-ice will help the Panthers, but Vegas is on a serious heater.

Game 3 (Vegas leads the series, 2-0)

Who: Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers

What: Stanley Cup Final

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Fla.

TV: TNT

How Florida got here: Defeated Boston in 7; defeated Toronto in 5; defeated Carolina in 4.

How Vegas got here: Defeated Winnipeg in 5; defeated Edmonton in 6; defeated Dallas in 6

Game 4: Vegas at Florida, 8 p.m. Saturday, TNT

Flyers, In Case You Missed It:

Peter Laviolette is a candidate for Rangers’ head-coaching job.

Will Nolan Patrick get his name on Stanley Cup if Vegas wins?

Around The National Hockey Network:

Vegas Hockey Now: Golden Knights crush Panthers in Game 2, and troll Florida, too. Vegas goalie Adin Hill continues to be the star goalie in the finals.

Florida Hockey Now: Panthers desperately need a win in Game 3.

Buffalo Hockey Now: Sabres 2022 first-round pick Noah Ostlund will play in the Swedish Hockey League next season.

Calgary Hockey Now: Flames hope veteran Mikael Backlund wants to stay in Calgary.

Chicago Hockey Now: Former Blackhawk Alex DeBrincat reportedly could be traded by Senators.

Colorado Hockey Now: Ducks hire head coach — AHL’s Colorado Eagles coach Greg Cronin. Flyers assistant Brad Shaw reportedly was a candidate for the Ducks’ job.

Los Angeles Hockey Now: Kings shake up their broadcast crew.

Montreal Hockey Now: Canadiens sign Cole Caufield to 8-year contract.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Swedish forward Jesper Boqvist looks to find his role with the Devils.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: Isles trying to find ways to carve out some salary-cap space.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Expect to see Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas at the draft table.

San Jose Hockey Now: Source says goalie Eetu Makiniemi should return to Sharks next season.

Washington Hockey Now: Capitals minor league goalie Zach Fucale to sign with KHL.