Three takeaways: Panthers get back to offensive strengths, show off depth scoring

Playing their final home game of 2024, the Florida Panthers sent their fans home with smiles on their faces.

The Cats but a bow on the most successful calendar year in franchise history, one that included the team’s first ever Stanley Cup championship, with an exciting 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night at Amerant Bank Arena.

Not only did the win help Florida avoid losing three consecutive games for what would’ve been only the second time this season, it also put on display their ability to learn and adjust from past mistakes.

It also showed that the Panthers don’t necessarily need contributions from their superstars in order to outscore someone.

Let’s get to Monday’s takeaways:

GETTING TO THE NET

When addressing the media after Florida’s second straight shutout loss on Saturday afternoon, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said the team wasn’t doing enough in the offensive zone.

They weren’t wreaking havoc around the goaltender, they weren’t beating their opponents to rebounds and loose pucks, and perhaps most importantly, were late getting in on the forecheck.

Considering there was a clear element of their game that needed to be improved on, it was nice to see the Panthers did just that on Monday against the Rangers.

Did the Cats look like their usual, physically imposing selves in the offensive zone? Not quite, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.

“Better, I thought, early for sure on the goals,” said Maurice. “Yes, there were parts of the game where we didn't give ourselves a chance to, and that'll be the area focus for us – the simplicity in out game in terms of how we move but their gap was pretty good and they knocked a lot of pucks down in the neutral zone so we couldn't generate some things in that area – but it's a good starting point for us, for sure. There will be enough video on that to be pleased with.”

BALANCED SCORING

While the Panthers put up five goals on six assists against the Rangers, only one of those points came from a player in Florida’s top six.

Aside from Sasha Barkov’s empty net goal in the final seconds, the offensive contributions from the home team came almost exclusively from its depth players.

Anton Lundell’s line, with Eetu Luostarinen and Jesper Boqvist, was particularly noticeable, consistently moving the puck into the Rangers end while mitigating opportunities going the other way.

“It's important in just the confidence in the room, that Lundell’s line goes on the ice and they think they can get something good to happen,” Maurice said. “You can't have guys go too long (without scoring), or they start to almost change the way they play, not really looking for the goal, but they lose that good feeling every time they hit the ice. You like to spread it around a little bit. Luostarinen, it’s been a bit of a while for him too, and he got in the right spot in the slot tip, he's good at that.”

BIG NIGHT FROM BOB

It had been a full seven days between starts for Sergei Bobrovsky, and boy did he look fresh.

Bob made 33 saves, six of which being classified as high danger shots, while keeping the Rangers at bay during their push to earn a crucial two points.

This season has been a disaster for New York and there were large chunks of Monday’s game where it could have gone either way.

If not for the heroics of Bobrovsky, the Rangers could easily have stolen two points from the Panthers.

Alas, it would not happen on Bob’s watch, not on this night.

Afterwards, Maurice made sure to point out the importance of his goaltender in relation to the win.

“I thought Bob was great,” Maurice said. “Sergei made three or four incredible saves, or we’re having a different conversation. We can’t lose sight of that.”

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