The Florida Panthers played a doubleheader preseason game against the Nashville Predators on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers beat the Predators 3-2 in the first game and then 6-2 in the second of the doubleheader game. It seemed like the Florida Panthers never left the ice in these first two games, they picked up right where they left off three months after winning the Stanley Cup. On Wednesday night, the Panthers will head to Orlando and face cross-state rivals Tampa Bay Lightning.
Preview Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The rookies from the Florida Panthers were putting on a show in the first game of the double header; rookie Hunter St. Martin had a goal in the first game against Nashville with assist by Gracyn Sawchyn. Also rookie Rasmus Asplund got a goal assisted by Justin Sourdif. Matthew Tkachuk was also a goal scorer in the first game assisted by Mikulas Hovorka. Goaltender Spencer Knight saved all of the 19 shots faced in the game. He split time with rookie Cooper Black who had seven saves, two goals against and a .714 save percentage. The Florida Panthers took game one winning 3-2.
In the second game against Nashville, The Panthers top line with Alexsander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett were snapping the puck around without missing a beat from last season. In the first period the Panthers scored four goals from Sam Bennett, Josh Davies, Jesper Boqvist, and Gustav Forsling. Then in the second and third period Patrick Giles added to the Panthers lead and lastly Adam Boqvist scored to beat the Predators 6-2. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved seven shots and allowed one goal. Bobrovsky split time with goaltender Chris Driedger who had 19 saves, one goal against and a .947 save percentage.
The Florida Panthers will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in their third preseason game in Orlando. Forwards Gracyn Sawchyn and Hunter St. Martin had a great rookie camp and first pre season debuts. A sixth-round pick back on June 29, St. Martin was the lone 2024 draft pick to participate either in the Rookie Showcase or the start of training camp as Florida’s other selections stayed back either in Sweden or Russia.
Coach Paul Maurice said “Sawchyn and St. Martin they are very young guys and junior eligible — is that the physical cost would be greatest on those two. They are still young; every year, their tanks get bigger, they get so much stronger physically.” Head Coach Paul Maurice will look for this duo to be great again against the Lightning on Wednesday. The starting line ups have no been announced but will be in the morning of Wednesday. Mackie Samoskevich should be back in the line up for Wednesday. He did not play the last two pre seasons games due to an upper body injury.
Final Thoughts
The Florida Panthers will look into their rookies to perform well again for this next preseason game against the Lightning. All of the rookies have been performing well and Head Coach Paul Maurice will look for them to keep up the physicality, skill, ability and pace of the game. There is a lot of growing for these young rookies but they are trending in the right direction in a way where the Panthers and Maurice are looking for in a player.
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